Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has dropped a huge bombshell, stating that Brendon McCullum was not England’s first choice as the Test coach.
In February last year, England sacked Chris Silverwood as the Test coach before appointing McCullum as his successor during the summer. Under McCullum, England have completely turned their fortunes around in Tests and have been the best performing side in the last one year. England has won 11 of their 14 Tests under McCullum’s guidance, including a remarkable 3-0 series whitewash in Pakistan.
England decided to undergo a huge overhaul in the Test team in the wake of the humiliating 4-0 loss in the Ashes in Australia. Apart from Silverwood’s departure, batting mentor Graham Thorpe and managing director Ashley Giles lost their jobs too while Joe Root stood down as captain and was replaced by Ben Stokes.
Ricky Ponting makes shocking revelation:
While England are doing really well in Tests under McCullum, Ricky Ponting has revealed he was approached about the England Test coaching role before the former New Zealand skipper. In a recent interview, the Australia legend stated that Rob Key, ECB’s director of men’s cricket, contacted him about the vacancy before McCullum. Ponting also revealed the reason behind turning down the offer.
“I actually got asked before Brendon took the job,” Ponting told Guerilla Cricket this week.
“I did take some calls from Robert Key as soon as he took over that job. 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,” he added.
Meanwhile, McCullum and his team have their task cut out in the ongoing Ashes after losing the first Test. Australia beat England by 2 wickets in a thrilling game to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The second Test is scheduled to be played from June 28.
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