Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has confirmed that he is not interested in taking up the role of England‘s white-ball head coach, a position left vacant after Matthew Mott’s resignation following England’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024.
Ponting, who recently parted ways with Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), stated that he has no desire to return to international coaching at this point in his life. Despite being available full-time, the 49-year-old emphasized that his current commitments to television work and his desire to spend more time at home take precedence over any coaching offers.
Ponting’s Stance on International Coaching
Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, Ponting explained his decision to steer clear of international coaching roles. “No, I wouldn’t ever consider doing that actually. I’m on record saying that international jobs for me right now are not really where my life is at as there’s just so much more time taken up with an international job,” Ponting said.
He added that while he has other professional commitments, including commentary duties, the most significant factor in his decision is the need to balance work with personal time. “I’ve got other commitments as well, with my TV work and things that I do, and also trying to balance that out with having a decent amount of home time, which I haven’t had much of in the last couple of years anyway,” he remarked.
An Australian Coaching England?
Ponting also highlighted the awkwardness he would feel as an Australian coaching England. “Coaching other international teams is one thing, but coaching England for an Australian is probably something slightly different,” he noted, advising the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to remove his name from any potential shortlist.
Previous Offers Turned Down
This is not the first time Ponting has turned down an international coaching opportunity. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had approached him to take over as head coach after Rahul Dravid‘s tenure. However, Ponting declined the offer, citing similar reasons for not wanting to commit to an international coaching role.
England’s Search Continues
With Ponting out of the running, the ECB continues its search for a new head coach to guide the England white-ball team. Other names in consideration reportedly include cricket legends like Freddie Flintoff, Kumar Sangakkara, and Andy Flower. However, the search for Mott’s successor remains ongoing, with the ECB yet to make an official announcement.
As Ponting steps away from the spotlight of international coaching, he will continue his association with cricket through commentary and analysis, focusing on the upcoming white-ball series involving Australia in the United Kingdom. His fans and the broader cricketing community will no doubt miss the prospect of seeing Ponting at the helm of a national team, but his contributions to the game continue in other significant ways.
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