Ricky Ponting has revealed that he was ‘in the frame’ for the England cricket head coaching job.
The Aussie legend said that he had been approached by Rob Key before the post was finally awarded to Brendon McCullum.
Speaking to guerillacricket.com on the possibility of one day coaching the England team he said,
“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 as soon as he took over that job.”
He continued,
“But I’m just not ready for a full-time international coaching job, where I’m at in my life. Having travelled as much as I have, with young kids now I just don’t want to be away as much as I was. And even talking to Brendon, his family is only just arriving today. When you’ve got kids that are in school, moving them around, that’s not what I want to do.”
Things could have been very different for English cricket. Under McCullum, England have only lost 3 of their last 14 tests since his appointment but did suffer Ashes defeat at Edgbaston. McCullum along with Ben Stokes, has revolutionised the way the team plays with the ultra-attacking style labelled “Bazball”.
The next Ashes test starts on Wednesday, taking place at Lord’s with England hoping to level the series.