Ponting set to coach at Oval for Hundred

Australia legend Ricky Ponting is in line to coach the Hundred franchise based at the Oval next summer as the England and Wales Cricket Board targets high-profile figureheads for each team.

Ponting, 44, is in England helping with Australia’s World Cup campaign and is also the head coach of the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.

He is No1 choice to join the yetto-be-named franchise based at Surrey’s ground. The Oval Greats is one possible title for the team.

Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene is expected to coach the Southern Brave team based at the Rose Bowl, while Shane Warne has been linked with the Lord’s Spirit franchise to be run by the MCC. Stephen Fleming remains favourite to coach the Trent Rockets, while it is understood former Australia coach Darren Lehmann is wanted by the franchise at Headingley. Gary Kirsten is likely to take charge of the team based in Cardiff. Andrew Mcdonald, the highly-rated coach of Victoria, looks set to coach the Birmingham Phoenix, beating England coach Trevor Bayliss to the job.

The appointment of so much overseas talent will cause consternation among county coaches and those who believe the tournament should be promoting English talent. Talks are continuing over the final names of the teams. It is understood the Leeds Supercharge team could change, with “Leeds” dropped in favour of the more generic Northern, which would work better for Durham, who will run the team jointly with Yorkshire.

The player draft will take place on Oct 20 and organisers are expected to announce which overseas stars have agreed to play after the end of the World Cup, along with a number of coaching appointments.