Ashes 2023: “I got asked before Brendon” – THIS Former Australian Was Approached for the Head Coach Role of England Before McCullum
Ricky Ponting revealed that he was offered the role of head coach of England before Brendon McCullum.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting revealed that he was approached for the role of England men’s Test team head coach before Brendon McCullum.
In the aftermath of a humiliating 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia in 2022, England’s head coach Chris Silverwood, batting mentor Graham Thorpe, and managing director Ashley Giles had to step down from their roles while Joe Root relinquished Test captaincy.
In April 2022, Rob Key was appointed as the director of men’s cricket for the ECB and the next month he asked former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum to take up the role of head coach of the Three Lions in the longest format of the game.
Here’s what Ricky Ponting told Guerilla Cricket:
“I actually got asked before Brendon took the job, there you go. You guys might be the first to find that out — but I did take some calls from Robert Key (managing director of the English Cricket team) as soon as he (McCullum) took over that job.”
“But I’m just not ready for a full-time international coaching job, where I’m at in my life.”
The main rationale behind Ponting’s decision to turn down the offer was to spend time with his family.
“Having travelled as much as I have, with young kids now I just don’t want to be away as much as I was,” he said.
Talking about the ongoing Ashes 2023, England lost the series opener in Edgbaston earlier this week as they suffered a narrow two-wicket defeat. The second Ashes Test is set to take place at the Lord’s from Wednesday, June 28.
