Ricky Ponting to join Australian support staff for England tour

Justin Langer welcomed Ponting's assistance with a whole heart, admitting that his former captain would be a good addition to the team.

“Ricky is one of the greats of the game, and since he was already in England doing some commentary we saw it as a great opportunity to have him join our team for this important series. We have played a lot of cricket together and coached alongside each other previously, and he will also know many of the players already through his work with the team over the past two summers and his BBL commitments," Wisden India.

“Ricky’s knowledge of the game is second-to-none, and we know that his experiences, tactical expertise and leadership will be invaluable for this group, as we start to build a team capable of winning a World Cup in these conditions in a year’s time,” Langer added.

Ponting had also assisted Langer in the T20 series against Sri Lanka. He also coached the Mumbai Indians who went on to claim the title in 2015 under his reign, making him successful as an Indian Premier League coach as well. Juggling between his commentary assignments and his role as a supporting staff, Ponting is aiming to serve to the best of his abilities.