PUSH FOR PONTING
CRICKET Australia is deep in negotiations with Ricky Ponting to coach the Aussies in the blockbuster Twenty20 World Cup to take place on home soil.
Ponting is poised to play an assistant’s role to Darren Lehmann in Australia’s Twenty20 tri-series against England and New Zealand in February, but the bigger goal is to lock in the former Test skipper to help break the country’s World Cup drought in the shortest format.
CA has made no secret of its desire to potentially separate the Twenty20 coaching role into a specialist position after Lehmann’s contract expires in 2019, and it’s understood Ponting, for so long the prime target, is now in advanced talks to play the lead role.
Ponting is set to return to the high-powered world of Indian Premier League coaching this year when he takes on the head role at Delhi Daredevils.
Even when he was playing, Ponting was regarded as the premier batting coach in the country, and Matthew Hayden has often spoken about how conversations with the skipper out in the middle mid-innings could get him making critical adjustments on the run.
CA got Ponting on as an assistant for last summer’s Twenty20 fixtures when Justin Langer was given the reins temporarily.
Ponting has clear coaching ambitions and CA believes he is the best brain in the Australian game, but in the past timing issues have got in the way.
The 43-year-old has broadcasting and business commitments as well as a young family he doesn’t want to be away from. For that reason, he is unlikely to throw his hat in the ring for Lehmann’s current role of coaching all three formats, however, the more isolated gig of Twenty20 mentor has serious appeal.
Cricket Australia has already forecast its desire to make T20 cricket — in which Australia is ranked a lowly No. 7— an increased focus by making Mark Waugh head selector for the format.
Having Ponting as a regular coach or contributor from now right through to the World Twenty20 to be staged in Australia in late 2020 would help provide a cohesion and direction that has never existed.