Ponting in mix for T20 coaching job
CRICKET Australia is on the hunt for a specialist Twenty20 coach as part of a bid to end the alarming rankings slide across all formats.
It is understood head of cricket Pat Howard has the backing of Darren Lehmann to reshape the coaching structure and permanently split responsibilities in an overcrowded schedule, with a full-time coaching replacement at T20 international level to be appointed long before the end of this summer.
Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, David Saker and Jason Gillespie are among the big names being headhunted for the role as Howard prepares to ramp up his search, with Australia languishing at No.7 in the world in T20s following an- other loss over the weekend.
The dramatic slump is part of a wider issue, with the marathon tour of Bangladesh and India descending into a nightmare for Australia, now ranked No.5 in Tests and down to No.3 in one-day cricket.
Ben Stokes might have plummeted England into a pre-Ashes crisis, but there are also ominous pre-Ashes signs for Australia, who are now under pressure to avoid a replica of 12 months ago when the confidence-sapping nature of a 5-0 ODI whitewash loss in South Africa set the tone for a disastrous home summer.
The international schedule is so ridiculously crowded it has become almost impossible for one coach to cover all three formats, highlighted by the fact Lehmann handed the reins to Langer for a series earlier this year, and to Saker for the current campaign in India.
Australia has made no secret of its desire to get Ponting involved in the set-up on a more regular basis and the former Test captain has a brilliant record coaching in the IPL — however it would come down to whether his busy schedule is flexible enough for the role of a T20 head coach.
DAVID Warner’s short stint as T20 captain could refresh Australia as it desperately tries to avoid another series defeat, says Aaron Finch.
Warner, Finch’s opening partner, is in charge for the three matches against India, with Steve Smith to head home because of a shoulder injury.
Australia lost the first game under Warner’s leadership in Ranchi yesterday, making tomorrow’s clash in Guwahati a must-win.
“I think it can be a totally different job when you’re filling in for someone as opposed to when you’ve got the job yourself,” Finch said.
“There’s obviously a lot more expectation and a lot more scrutiny around Steve as a leader because he does have the job in all three formats full-time.
“I think it can be quite refreshing when another skipper comes in that probably doesn’t have to worry about the offfield stuff quite as much as the regular skipper does.”
Australia’s latest defeat came after it was thrashed 4-1 in the one-day international series.
While Warner’s first game at the helm for the tour didn’t manage to change the team’s fortunes, rain severely shortened the contest.
Australia limped to 8-118 from 18.4 overs before almost two hours’ play was lost. India chased down its revised target of 48 from six over with three balls to spare, but Finch said the Australian bowlers had performed well.