Triple World Cup winner and two-time World Cup-winning skipper, Ricky Ponting will join Australia’s coaching staff for the World Cup in England and Wales this year. The ICC megaevent will begin from May 30. Australia will enter the tourney as defending champions.
Australia are five-time World Cup winners but have been in disarray for quite sometime now. Cricket Australia made this big announcement today. Ponting will reunite with his former teammate, Justin Langer in the coaching set-up. Langer is Australia’s head coach. Ponting has been appointed as assistant coach.
“This appointment also provides an opportunity for Graeme Hick to focus on preparation for the Ashes,” said interim Team Performance Executive General Manager Belinda Clark.
“With two major events back to back we believe it is important to focus a number of staff specifically on one event. The appointment of Ricky is a part of this overall strategy.”
The Men in Yellow are currently ranked sixth in ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings. They have been found wanting in absence of their batting heavyweights, David Warner and Steven Smith. But the good news for them is that there are high chances that both the players will be available for selection in the World Cup.