Coach Ponting joins Australia's UK tour

Ricky Ponting will join Australia's squad in the UK later this week in a coaching role alongside former teammate Justin Langer.

Ponting, who has been an assistant coach for Australia's T20 side twice before, will work with Langer for the five ODIs and single T20 against England over the next few weeks.

The 43-year-old has made no secret of his desire to move into coaching and recently completed his first year as coach of Delhi Daredevils in the IPL having previously worked with Mumbai Indians.

Langer, who was named Australia's head coach in all three formats when he took over from Darren Lehmann earlier this year, said he was thrilled to be reunited with his former Test skipper.

"Ricky is one of the greats of the game, and since he was already in England doing some commentary we saw it as a great opportunity to have him join our team for this important series," Langer said.

"We have played a lot of cricket together and coached alongside each other previously, and he will also know many of the players already through his work with the team over the past two summers and his BBL commitments.

"Ricky’s knowledge of the game is second-to-none, and we know that his experiences, tactical expertise and leadership will be invaluable for this group, as we start to build a team capable of winning a World Cup in these conditions in a year’s time."

Ponting will fit his coaching duties around commentary work that he was already scheduled to do during the series.

Former coach Lehmann has previously indicated his belief that the job of head coach should be split between a Test and ODI role and a mentor focused solely on Twenty20 cricket.

Ponting has reportedly been lined up by Cricket Australia to take charge of the T20 side in time for the 2020 World T20 on home soil, although those reports have not been confirmed.

And Langer, who has enjoyed great success in T20 cricket with Perth Scorchers in the KFC BBL, has already been confirmed as Australia's coach for Test, ODIs and T20s going forward.

Ponting has, however, long expressed his desire to further his T20 coaching experience.

"I've had discussions with Cricket Australia for a long time about getting involved somewhere in some way shape or form," he said in January.

"I love coaching, I love being able to give a little bit back into the game.

"Obviously working and commentating on the Big Bash gives me an opportunity to see all the players and keep up with the tactics and the skills that are coming into the game now."

Along with Jason Gillespie, Ponting worked as an assistant to Langer for Australia's T20 series against Sri Lanka in 2017 when Langer was filling in as head coach due to Lehmann being with Australia's Test squad in India.

In February, Ponting was an assistant again - this time under Lehmann - during Australia's unbeaten T20 tri-series campaign against England and New Zealand.  

Qantas tours of England and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Qantas Tour of England

June 7: Warm-up v Sussex, Hove (D/N)

June 9: Warm-up v Middlesex, Lord's

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Monday, July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

Tuesday, July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Wednesday, July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Thursday, July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

Friday, July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 8: Final