Ricky Ponting reveals he was interested in coaching Australia but dropped the plans after ball-tampering saga in 2018

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has revealed he was keen on coaching Australia in 2018 but lost interest after the ball-tampering saga. Australian Cricket was dealt with severe humiliation after Steve Smith admitted to the ball-tampering charges in a Test against South Africa in 2018. Batter Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera trying to alter the condition of the ball with sandpaper after which skipper Steve Smith accepted that the leadership group had planned the events last night. Consequently, Smith and Warner were handed one-year suspension, while Bancroft was banned for nine months. Australia coach Darren Lehman too stepped down as Justin Langer took charge of the team.

“I had a few chats with Pat Howard. It never got to the detail of specifics, timing, resources, structure etc as there was no time pressure for that to happen,” Ponting said. “It was an open-ended discussion.” “However the events in South Africa in March 2018 led to so much change in Australian cricket and the appointment of Justin Langer to replace Darren Lehmann, across all three forms, was absolutely the right decision.”

Ponting was asked if he would like to coach Australia in future, to which the legendary cricketer responded by saying that he will have to give up a lot if he agrees to coach Australia which is why he will stick to coaching in the IPL, and commentating which gives him work-life balance like never before.

“My life has changed a lot since then. IPL continues to be my coaching priority and it works well with my media commitments with the Seven Network, Cricket Australia and Sky in the UK. “The rest of the year is spent with my family and enjoying a work/life balance that I have never had before. Right now, I would have to give up so much to take on a national role. It’s just the wrong time for me,” he added.