Ashes news 2023: Ricky Ponting claims he was offered England job before Brendon McCullum

Australian great Ricky Ponting has rubbed more salt into English wounds, with a hilarious flex to put the old enemy in their place once again.

Ricky Ponting has revealed he was offered the role of head coach of England’s Test team earlier than Brendon McCullum.

McCullum took over as coach last May, one month after Rob Key was named England’s managing director of men’s cricket.

Ponting, respected as one of the sharpest minds in the game right now, claims to have taken a call from Key as soon as he started his new job.

“I actually got asked before Brendon took the job,” Ponting told Guerilla Cricket. “I did take some calls from Robert Key as soon as he took over that job.”

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting claims he was offered the England job before Brendon McCullum. Picture: Getty

Alongside his role as a pundit, Ponting also coaches Indian Premier League side the Delhi Daredevils but remains reluctant to take on a full-time coaching role.

“I’m just not ready for a full-time international coaching job, where I’m at in my life,” he explained.

“Having travelled as much as I have, with young kids now I just don’t want to be away as much as I was.

“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.”

Ponting knocked back the England job as he’s reluctant to take on a full-time coaching role. Picture: Getty

Since McCullum took the reins in May last year, England has won 11 of its 14 Tests playing an ultra-aggressive style of cricket dubbed ‘Bazball’.

The side has however lost two of its past three Tests, including a thrilling opening Ashes encounter.

That match also saw Ponting dragged into the thick of it as England seamer Ollie Robinson cited the former Australian captain when defending his send off of Usman Khawaja.

“As I said after Ollie Robinson said what he said, this England cricket team hasn’t played against Australia and they’ll find out pretty quickly what playing Ashes cricket and playing against a good Australian cricket team is all about,” Ponting said on an ICC podcast.

“And if Ollie Robinson hasn’t learned that already after last week, then he’s a slow learner.”

Originally published as Ashes news 2023: Ricky Ponting claims he was offered England job before Brendon McCullum