London: Australia’s World Cup-winning captain and Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has revealed that he was approached for the England Test coaching role before Brendon McCullum took over last year. Following an embarrassing 0–4 defeat in the Ashes, the composition of the England men’s team underwent a massive overhaul, with Chris Silverwood being replaced by McCullum and Matthew Mott as Test and white-ball coaches respectively.
Test captain Joe Root also stepped down as captain, while batting consultant Graham Thorpe and managing director Ashley Giles also lost their jobs. Ponting said that he had been contacted by Rob Key, who had then been appointed as the English Cricket Board’s new director of men’s cricket.
“I was actually asked before Brendon took over – you guys might be the first to find out,” Ponting told the Guerrilla Cricket podcast. “As soon as Robert Key took over, I took a few calls from him.”
however, Ponting, who is the head coach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Delhi Capitals, turns down the offer, as he wants to spend time with his family. “But I am not ready for a full-time international coaching job given where I am in my life. For all the times I’ve traveled with young children, I no longer want to be away as much as I used to be. And speaking of Brendan, his family is coming over today. Taking your kids around when they’re in school, I don’t want to do that,” the former Australian batsman said.
The Australian cricket legend also explained why he was not interested in coaching the England Test team.#Ashes https://t.co/cQRTNd2AAi
– Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) 23 June 2023
Under the leadership of new Test captain Ben Stokes and coach McCullum, England have adopted an aggressive and fearless brand of cricket, popularly known as ‘Baseball’, which was coined by the former Black Caps captain’s nickname by an English cricket journalist. Was coined after ‘Baaz’. Ever since the pair took charge, England’s Test team has been revitalized. The team has won 11 out of 13 Tests and is yet to lose a single series.
However, England had the wrong result in the opening Ashes match at Edgbaston earlier this week as they suffered a two-wicket defeat. The second Ashes Test is set to begin on Wednesday at Lord’s.