Ricky Ponting expresses wish to coach Australia in future

Mumbai Indians coach Ricky Ponting on Wednesday expressed a desire to work with Australia's current crop of Test batsmen, suggesting helming the national team in the future is something that appealed to him.

Melbourne, Apr 6 (PTI) Batting great and current Mumbai Indians head coach Ricky Ponting has expressed his desire to be involved with the Australian national cricket team in a coaching role and hinted that he could be ready for such a job after the 2019 World Cup.

Ricky Ponting

Ponting said the possibility of being involved with the Australian team down the track was certainly something that appealed to him.

"I would love to be working with (David) Warner and (Steve) Smith along with some of the young guns like (Usman) Khawaja and (Joe) Burns -- that will be a lot of fun," the three-time World Cup winner, who retired in 2012, said.

"I know I will thoroughly enjoy it, but right now I have the Big Bash commentary and two months with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. The rest of the time I like to spend time with my family," he said.

Ponting did not reveal the time frame when he would like to throw his hat in the ring for a coaching job with Australia, but hinted it might be only after 2019 World Cup.

"To be honest, I have not thought that far ahead (to 2019), (but) thinking about it now, my family will be a lot older, the girls will be nearly teenagers then so maybe I'll want to be getting out of the house," he was quoted as saying in Cricket Australia.

"I love everything about being involved with a team. That is what my life has been about, it is about being in cricket changing rooms and trying to figure out ways to be a better player, or as a coach now I'm always trying to find ways of improving others.

"If I can improve as a coach this year and I can improve the players, that is a step in right direction," Ponting said. Former skipper said he'd prefer a more consistent role if he was to involve himself with Australia's batting group.

"I could (do a consultancy role) but to be fair, I don't think it will be fulfilling for me and I'm not sure how much the guys will get out of it," he said.

"As a batting coach you want to have continuity, have the same set of eyes and same voice on you for a long period of time. I know that's what I'd want if I was a young player in the team. I don't think I will be doing myself any justice or players if I just came in for a tour here and there," Ponting
added.