The former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting will be joining hands with his former teammate and current head coach of the Australian cricket team, Justin Langer among the backroom staff for Australia’s upcoming limited-overs tour of the UK. The announcement of the same was made by Cricket Australia (CA) in a media release on Wednesday(June 6).

Ponting has previously coached Australian T20I team, alongside Langer, against Sri Lanka at home in 2017, and with Darren Lehmann for the T20I tri-series against England and New Zealand earlier this year.

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Langer said he was thrilled to have Ponting on board. The Australian head coach said, “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.”

He further added, “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.”

Ponting is expected to join the touring party on June 10. His exact role in the team’s support staff is yet to be communicated.

The Australian team is scheduled to play five ODIs and a one-off T20I against hosts England.

Australian tour to England

June 7: Warm-up v Sussex, Hove (D/N)

June 9: Warm-up v Middlesex, Lord’s

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)