Three-time World Cup winner Ricky Ponting has been roped in by Washington Freedom as their head coach ahead of the second season of Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States. He is ready to interchange fellow Aussie and his mentor Greg Shippherd, who coached Freedom in the inaugural season and propelled them to a third-place end. The former Australia captain will stay related to the US-based franchise for the subsequent two years.
Ponting expressed elation at his appointment, lauded Shippherd for his work at Freedom and is wanting “to build on his work” ahead of the second version of the match.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining the Washington Freedom in 2024. Cricket is really on the rise in the US and I’m looking forward to being involved in Major League Cricket. I’ve been impressed by everyone involved at Washington Freedom, and, while it’s a bit surreal to be replacing my mate Greg Shipperd, there’s probably no one better to set up a successful franchise. I’m ready to build on his work as we look towards the coming season,” Ponting mentioned in his assertion as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
Ponting comes in with truckloads of teaching expertise, and Freedom can extract loads of advantages from the identical. The captain of the 2003 and 2007 World Cup-winning groups is presently serving as the head coach of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In addition to that, the 49-year-old has additionally had quick teaching stints with the Australian males’s cricket staff and Mumbai Indians.
Michael Klinger, the General Manager of Cricket at Washington Freedom, believes that Ponting’s appointment “is a huge coup for Major League Cricket and cricket in North America”.
“Ricky was one of probably the most recognised and revered cricketers in the world throughout his taking part in days and is now one of probably the most revered and coveted coaches on the worldwide circuit. It is a large coup, not just for Washington Freedom and the partnership with Cricket NSW, however extra holistically for Major League Cricket and cricket in North America in normal.
“Players want to play for Ricky. He has an incredible eye for talent and a skill in bringing the best out of those players. Ricky will work with some of our CNSW coaches and players who are part of the Washington Freedom set up and we look forward to building on the foundations for success from the first edition of MLC,” Klinger mentioned.
