Warne and Ponting in sights of English franchises

AUSTRALIA is taking charge of England’s cricket revolution as start-up franchises for “The Hundred” clamour to sign our retired champions as coaches.

It is understood Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Andrew McDonald are high priorities for teams ahead of next July’s inaugural competition.

Former Test opener Simon Katich is already locked in at Manchester, with Katich signed before the Old Trafford-based franchise has even been given a name.

Ponting and Warne have been linked to the two London teams. They will play out of Lord’s (London Spirit) and The Oval (franchise yet to be named), with Warne also linked to the Southampton team (Southern Brave).

McDonald, who led Victoria to the Sheffield Shield and one-day titles and Melbourne Renegades to the Big Bash League in a domestic clean sweep last summer, has been linked to Birmingham Phoenix. The player draft is booked for October 20.

Cricket’s newest format will see teams face 100 balls – bowlers can deliver five or 10 consecutive balls before changing ends – in a game that will further accelerate the tactical evolution of white-ball cricket.