Ricky Ponting has endorsed the damning report into the toxic culture of Australian cricket

FORMER Test captain Ricky Ponting has backed the report into the toxic culture of Australian cricket but knocked back the chance to join the sport’s governing body … for now.

Former Australia Test captain Ricky Ponting.

FORMER Test captain Ricky Ponting has backed the report into the toxic culture of Australian cricket but knocked back the chance to join the sport’s governing body — for now.

Ponting has left his options open to join the Cricket Australia board, which has lost chairman David Peever and influential former Test skipper Mark Taylor in recent days.

There were few surprises in the report, according to Ponting, who has warned the governing body needed to move quickly to fix the situation.

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“It is a wake-up call for everybody involved in cricket in Australia to turn things around and turn them around pretty quickly because the on-field success is not there at the moment and the off-field stuff is not going as we would have liked so there is a great challenge there for everyone involved,” Ponting said.

“There weren’t a lot of surprises in that (report) for me, being a past player and someone who has been around for a long time.”

Simon Longstaff’s report into the culture of cricket was released last week and found there had been a dictatorial culture of arrogance and bullying.

Ricky and Rianna Ponting at the Melbourne Cup.

Subsequently, Peever was forced to resign from his position, while Test great Taylor stood down on Monday.

Asked if he would consider putting his hand up, the 43-year-old commentator and coach said his slate was full.

“Hopefully they look around long and hard and find the right people to fill it (the positions),” he said.

“I love the game and I love to be able to give back to Cricket Australia when I can. Right now is not the right time for me. I just wouldn’t be able to commit as much time as would be needed to go on the Cricket Australia board.

“I will wait and see what happens over the next few years when the commentary slows down and the coaching slows down, never say never.”

Ponting was careful with his words when asked about the push to have Cricket Australia review Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith and Dave Warner’s bans following the ball tampering scandal earlier this year.

Ricky Ponting chats to Australia captain Tim Paine and coach Justin Langer.

“I am not sure what they will do,” he said.

“I know there has been some uproar, a few words from the players association pretty much demanding that those bans get looked into. I am not sure what is right and what is wrong.

“I understand the players have paid a pretty hefty price already with the 12 month ban so we will wait and see what plays out in the coming time.”

Meanwhile, Ponting sported a moon boot as he made his way around the Birdcage at Flemington Racecourse for Melbourne Cup, enjoying the hospitality at The Kennedy marquee.

Ponting, who picked a winner at Derby Day and won $12,500, snapped his Achilles tendon 10 weeks ago while kicking a football during an ad shoot and is still recovering.

“I had eight weeks no walking at all, for someone who is pretty active normally, it is pretty frustrating,” he said.

“Hopefully in another month I will be back to playing golf and being able to do some stuff with the kids.”

Originally published as Ricky Ponting has endorsed the damning report into the toxic culture of Australian cricket