Ponting confirms coaching ambitions

Test great Ricky Ponting says his new commentary deal with Channel 7 will help, not hinder, his coaching ambitions.

Channel 7, who along with Fox Sports will broadcast Test matches in Australia and the KFC Big Bash League for the next six summers, today confirmed they had signed Ponting for their cricket coverage.

Since his playing days concluded in 2013 after a record-breaking career, Ponting turned his hand to coaching and has enjoyed stints in the Indian Premier League and with Australia as an assistant coach, a role he filled as recently as the successful T20 tri-series in February.

While Ponting’s name was raised as a potential national T20 coach following Darren Lehmann’s resignation in the wake of the ball-tampering incident in South Africa, the head coaching role of the Australian cricket team went to his close friend Justin Langer.

Having put pen to paper today, Ponting said his new role as Channel 7 commentator will allow him to both broadcast and coach the game he loves. 

"Being with Channel 7 now, if anything, probably enhances my opportunities to coach whether that be over here in India in the IPL or maybe some more involvement around the Australian team," Ponting said on Channel 7 from Delhi, where he is coaching the Daredevils.

"This relationship for me will probably open up more coaching opportunities.

"That was one of the reasons why I made the decision to do what I do.

"First and foremost, I love the game of cricket, I love broadcasting the game of cricket.

"I’ve had a wonderful last four or five years doing that on the Big Bash coverage back in Australia.

"I’m excited to do that again for the next few years. I’m sure we’ll get a really exciting and passionate group of commentators to work alongside.

"The coaching thing will always be there in the background when I need it."

Ponting threw his full support behind Langer, who has been tasked with rebuilding Australia’s team culture, approach and public perception after the events at Newlands.

Ponting said he "couldn’t think of a better man to come in and take over as coach of the Australian cricket team" and would be willing to help Langer out in any way he can.

"I must admit I was devastated for Darren Lehmann to make that decision to stand down like he did," he said.

"I’m a great mate of Darren’s and I think he’s done an amazing job as coach of the Australian cricket team.

"But I’m probably even closer to Justin Langer.

"In our playing days we were probably like inseparable brothers – we did everything together.

"I think we’ve got very similar thoughts and ideas on the game and team culture.

"Justin is absolutely the right man and if I can get involved in any way trying to help him out, maybe even as an assistant coach around the T20 format or one-day format then absolutely, I’d love to do that.

"I had a chance to do that in New Zealand in a tri-angular series working under Darren Lehmann – I absolutely loved being back around that team environment again, so fingers crossed those opportunities might present themselves in the next few months as well."