Ricky Ponting makes coaching cameo as Australians train at Lord’s ahead of second Ashes Test

Australia’s most prolific Test batter, former captain Ricky Ponting, appeared at training ahead of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. Here’s what he was doing.

Ricky Ponting made a guest appearance at training as Australia stepped up preparations for the second Test at Lord’s.

After a lighter session on Saturday featuring only the side’s fringe players, as well as the obsessional Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, the bulk of the squad hit the home of cricket on Sunday morning, three days out from day one.

And the Aussies were able to benefit from the bonus advice of an all-time great. Ponting – in the UK as a commentator – stood behind the nets with his son, providing some occasional counsel to the Australians, including batting guidance for Nathan Lyon, whose 16 not out helped Australia to its two-wicket win in the first Test at Edgbaston.

On a balmy London day, David Warner donned a singlet while batting for almost an hour. Labuschagne and Cameron Green also had stints with the bat.

Ponting had told an ICC podcast in recent days that he was willing to assist Labuschagne after his dual failures in Birmingham.

Ricky Ponting (L) watches Marnus Labuschagne bat during a nets session at Lord's. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Ricky Ponting and fellow great Justin Langer are in the UK on commentary duty. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“I‘ll wait for them to come and ask me. It’s not my place, I’m not one of the coaches, I’m just a past player that’s sitting back and analysing what a lot of these guys are doing,” Ponting said.

“But I would like to catch up with him and have a chat about his batting, because I think what I‘ve seen over the last couple of weeks, as far as I’m concerned, I think he’s over complicating things a little bit.

“I think he has to trust and believe in what‘s made him the No.2-ranked Test batsman in the world for the last couple of years and go back to trusting that. That’s all I’d say to him really.

“I would actually tell him to go and watch some footage and watch some video of when he‘s actually played his best, and remember those things and go and do that all over again.”

Ricky Ponting watches on during an Australian nets session at Lord's, offering a coaching cameo before the second Ashes Test. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Ponting also said that Travis Head would need to prepare for England to pepper him with short balls.

“Firstly, he‘s now going to be aware that it’s going to happen. He’s going to expect that,“ Ponting said.

“So therefore I think he has to work at it in his own mind. What‘s the best way for him to combat that type of bowling? Is it going to be to take it on? Is he going to have success if he tries to hook and pull balls that are into his body? Does he find a way to be able to duck and weave and get out of the way a bit better and try and wear the bowlers down?”

Australia’s frontline quicks eschewed bowling in the nets during the Sunday training session, although Scott Boland went through his paces in the middle.

Boland, whose spot in the XI for the second Test appears in doubt as Australia contemplates a recall for Mitchell Starc, has earned himself a new nickname. Smith repeatedly referred to the Victorian as Luhrmann, seemingly derived from Boland’s nickname in Victoria of ‘Barrel’. Barrel is shortened to Baz, the first name of the famous Australian film producer Luhrmann.

Originally published as Ricky Ponting makes coaching cameo as Australians train at Lord’s ahead of second Ashes Test