Ponting to coach Australia T20 side

Ricky Ponting will return to Australian cricket as a coach, taking on an assistant role with the national Twenty20 team in February's series against Sri Lanka.

Ponting will reunite with two familiar faces from a golden era of Australian cricket, joining Justin Langer and Jason Gillespie for the three-match KFC T20 INTL series.

Langer will act as head coach for the series, with Adelaide Strikers head coach Gillespie also an assistant. Full-time head coach Darren Lehmann will miss the series – as will a number of key players – with the Australia Test squad assembling in India ahead of a four-Test series which starts in the subcontinent the day after the final T20 against Sri Lanka.

"I always said when I retired that I wanted to get back involved and what better way to do it than alongside a couple of my best mates in cricket, Justin Langer and Jason Gillespie," Ponting said.

"We have some incredible Twenty20 talent in this country and I can’t wait to work with JL, Dizzy and those selected to have a real crack at doing something special for Australia’s Twenty20 international ambitions.”

Quick Single: Ponting picks his Greatest XI

Ponting first raised the possibility of a return to the Australia set-up last November, when it became public his two-year association with the Mumbai Indians had ended.

The former skipper played 92 Test matches wtih both Langer and Gillespie in the side, as well as 84 one-day internationals and just the one T20 (a 2005 match against England in Hampshire).

Ponting's playing career ended in 2013 – the final leg of which was a season with the Antigua Hawksbills in the Caribbean Premier League – and he has extensive experience with the shortest format.

He captained Australia in the very first T20 international, a big-hair hit-and-giggle affair against New Zealand in 2005, as well as two World T20 tournaments in 2007 and 2009.

He coached the Mumbai Indians to the Indian Premier League title in his first season in charge, and will know the talent on offer in the KFC Big Bash League thanks to his time in the Network Ten commentary box.

Ponting has already publically voiced his support for Glenn Maxwell this season, calling for him to be in the Australia Test squad for India. Should that not happen, Maxwell would almost certainly be in the T20 squad under Ponting's guidance. 

Quick Single: Langer to fill in as T20 head coach

“It’s exciting that Ricky will be involved alongside Jason and myself during the Sri Lanka series as he was the one man I really wanted alongside us," Langer said.

“His knowledge of the game and the way he reads it, coupled with his invaluable experience as an IPL coach with the Mumbai Indians means he knows the format inside-out.

"Add this to his playing and now commentary experiences in the BBL and he has all the makings of a great coach. I can't wait to work alongside my ex-captain and friend again.

“Ricky’s experience will add so much value to the group especially if, as seems likely, there are some fresh and relatively inexperienced faces in the squad with several senior players set to be in India at the same time.

“Just like Jason and myself, he will be coming into the series off the back of a long period watching Twenty20 cricket in the BBL and that will increase the chances of us hitting the ground running when the squad assembles.”

Quick Single: Gillespie signs on as Australia coach

Cricket Australia's Executive General Manager of Team Performance, Pat Howard has long sought to lure Ponting back into the fold in a coaching role.

"It is terrific news that we have secured Ricky’s services to work alongside Justin Langer and Jason Gillespie during the series against Sri Lanka," Howard said.

“By getting him on board during the series it will allow Justin, Jason and the players to tap into his extensive Twenty20 knowledge, gained through his time playing and coaching in domestic tournaments in England, the Caribbean, India and Australia, as well as through his time watching the KFC BBL for Network Ten.

“The fact Ricky, Justin and Jason all know each other so well through their many years together in the Australia team means they will gel quickly and their significant collective experience of the format should ensure the squad that is selected gets all the guidance it needs off the field.”

Australia meet Sri Lanka for T20 matches at the MCG on February 17, at Geelong's Kardinia Park on February 19 and at the Adelaide Oval on February 22.