Ricky Ponting says he was surprised to see close mate Justin Langer back in coaching so soon after his messy exit from the Australian men\u2019s team role, revealing that he encouraged the former Test opener to take an opportunity in the Indian Premier League.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Langer was in July announced as the new head coach of the IPL\u2019s Lucknow Super Giants, replacing former Zimbabwe star and England coach Andy Flower.<\/p>\n
While Langer had been linked to several vacancies since resigning as Australian coach early last year, the Lucknow job is the first coaching spot he has taken following the Aussie exit.<\/p>\n
It means Langer will be pitted against Ponting, who coaches the Delhi Capitals in the world\u2019s most lucrative cricket competition.<\/p>\n
Ponting, a long-time teammate and confidante of Langer, said the West Australian had sought the ex-Aussie skipper\u2019s counsel when the Lucknow job became a possibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t expect him to be back into coaching as quick as he is,\u201d Ponting told CODE Sports. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe opportunity came across his desk when we were in England doing the Ashes together and he said, \u2018What do you think?\u2019 <\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018Mate, if you\u2019re up to it, you\u2019ll love it.\u2019 It\u2019s a great environment to be back in again and the competitive juices that I know he\u2019s had pent up for the last couple of years, you can get them flowing again. And he\u2019s taken over a pretty good squad as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucknow, an expansion IPL franchise, made the finals in 2023 but lost in the eliminator to the Mumbai Indians.<\/p>\n
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Captained by Indian veteran KL Rahul, the Super Giants\u2019 squad features Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, a member of the Aussies Twenty20 side that won the World Cup in Langer\u2019s final few months in the job.<\/p>\n
Langer opted not to accept a short-term contract extension from Cricket Australia amid a controversial end to his almost four years as coach, leaving the role amid a degree of player discontent over his behaviour despite winning the World Cup and the Ashes. Langer, who enjoyed success as coach of the Big Bash League\u2019s Perth Scorchers before taking the Aussie job, has since worked as a broadcaster, columnist and sits on the board of the West Coast Eagles.<\/p>\n
Ponting noted that the IPL role was far from limited to the two months of the competition given the league\u2019s growing footprint around the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour IPL work never stops. There\u2019s comps going on all around the world, and you\u2019re looking at players and trying to scout and identify players. So that doesn\u2019t stop, but it makes it more exciting,\u201d Ponting said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love that job, it\u2019s just about my favourite time of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ponting is meanwhile optimistic about the BBL\u2019s Hobart Hurricanes returning to the finals this year after his disappointing first season as the club\u2019s head of strategy.<\/p>\n
Hobart \u2013 one of two BBL clubs never to have won the competition \u2013 claimed Chris Jordan, Sam Hain and Corey Anderson at last week\u2019s overseas player draft, but Ponting stressed the importance of home grown talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re trying to build a really strong core of domestic players and we\u2019re a bit like what Perth where the overseas slots don\u2019t become as important,\u201d Ponting said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo we’ve got some young talent down there like Caleb Jewell was outstanding last year, we\u2019ve got Mitch Owen as a young Tasmanian all-rounder that will get some opportunity this year. And when you look at (Riley) Meredith, (Billy) Stanlake, (Nathan) Ellis, (Paddy) Dooley, (Peter) Hatzoglou, if we can keep that sort of group of bowlers together then it\u2019s pretty good squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year was a disappointing season, with the squad that we had, missing the playoffs by that one game. So hopefully we can go a step further this year and qualify because it’s about time, we have to win something, simple as that. So now one of the reasons I took this job was to try and bring some success to the Hobart Hurricanes, so hopefully it\u2019s this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ponting\u2019s media commitments will again preclude him from spending much time around the Hurricanes during the season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n