Ponting open to selection, coaching talks

Ricky Ponting says he is keen to get involved somewhere and would consider a selection or coaching role with the national team.

Ricky Ponting says he is open to considering Australian cricket's vacant chairman of selectors position or a coaching role with the national team.

Admitting he has more time on his hands after stepping aside as coach of IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, Ponting says he is eager to 'get involved somewhere' but has yet to formally open discussions with Cricket Australia.

Former Test skipper Ponting has been touted as a strong potential candidate for the selection chairman role vacated by Rod Marsh following the Australian team's disastrous run of Test losses.

"I've got two more months now that I wouldn't normally have with Mumbai not happening anymore," Ponting told AAP during the World Cup of Golf celebrity pro-am in Melbourne on Wednesday.

"There's a bit more time on our hands than I had before."

The 41-year-old said considerable time spent on the road was an obstacle he'd need to ponder carefully before putting his hand up for the selection position.

"Look, I haven't been asked anything about that job and it's a huge commitment; a massive time commitment," said Ponting.

"I'd consider it and have a think about it, but I'd have to talk to my family about it as well.

"With that role, you're probably on the road for six or seven months of the year and I've done that for 20 years."

The retired Test batsman has already been in talks with Cricket Australia about dipping his toe into national team coaching by taking the reins for the three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka in February.

"I've said to Cricket Australia from the moment I've finished I'm happy to get involved somewhere and help out where I can," said Ponting.

"It's an interesting one ... the Test team will be in India at the time, so whoever coaches that (T20) team will have a young group of guys."

Could there be a regular national team coaching gig?

"Full-time coaching roles for me around the Aussie team are something that we need to work through and talk about so we'll see what happens there," Ponting said.

The former skipper dismissed talk the Australian Test team had developed culture problems, despite it's horror run of defeat both abroad and at home.

"The culture is fine ... don't worry about the culture. Those questions are always asked when the team's not playing well," he said.

"The last few weeks the team has left itself open for criticism because the results haven't gone their way. With (coach) Darren Lehmann and (captain) Steve Smith ... it'll be fine."


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Source: AAP



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