Ex-Test stars line up for coaching gig

Australia will need an interim limited-overs coach come February's Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, with national legend Ricky Ponting a likely front-runner for the coveted gig.

Australia will play their third and final KFC T20 INTL against Sri Lanka in Adelaide on February 22, with the first day of the first Test on the Qantas Tour of India to start less than 24 hours later on February 23 in Pune.

It will mean a host of multi-format players such as Steve Smith, David Warner and Mitchell Starc will miss the T20 series against Sri Lanka to be in India preparing for the Test tour.

"We are speaking to a number of people about the prospect of coaching the T20 international side during the Sri Lanka Series due to Darren Lehmann and David Saker being in India," a Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed.

"At this stage no decision has been made."

Complicating matters is the fact that the Sheffield Shield season will be back in full swing after the school holiday break for the KFC Big Bash League. That would seemingly rule out Western Australia coach Justin Langer, who guided Australia's one-day team to victory in a Caribbean tri-series earlier this year.

Ponting remains a solid fan favourite some four years after his international retirement, and has proven coaching pedigree in the Twenty20 format having guided the Mumbai Indians to the Indian Premier League title in his maiden season.

He would also have extensive knowledge of the best performers in the BBL from his role in Network 10's commentary team.

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However, Ponting is far from locked in for the role, with a number of likely contenders to be on CA's radar.

Adelaide Strikers head coach Jason Gillespie, touted as a potential future Australia head coach, has indicated his willingness to take up the role having returned to South Australia full-time after finishing up with Yorkshire.

And Brad Hodge, an assistant under Gillespie at the Strikers, also has IPL pedigree after leading the Gujarat Lions to the top of the IPL table in his first season, before the club was beaten at the semi-final stage.

CA also has a number of potential candidates already employed in various roles, including former Test stars Brad Haddin, Mike Hussey and Ryan Harris, who have made forays onto the coaching pathway with Australia A.

Ponting would be a front-runner for the role, but was coy when quizzed on his chances of helming the national side on Friday.

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"Yeah there has been a few inquiries," Ponting told Triple M's Rush Hour.

"Darren (Lehmann) will be away with that (Test) team, so they will need someone to coach the Australia T20 team here in Australia.

"I'm not saying that's me ... Let's wait and see over the next few months and there will be an announcement I'm sure."

Ponting has previously rebuffed coaching or consultancy roles with CA, with a crammed calendar of personal and business commitments.

Gillespie, for his part, endorsed Ponting as a "great coup" if he was lured into the coaches' box.

"I think that would be a good thing for the Twenty20 side to have Ricky Ponting take the reins," Gillespie told cricket.com.au today.

"I think it would be a great coup for Cricket Australia if they could convince Ricky Ponting to take the reins for that.

"If he's not available, it would certainly be something I would look at."

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