Ricky Ponting says that not being Australian captain means he now has time to mentor the squad’s exciting young talent.
Ponting said that during his reign as skipper, he would find himself sapped up by press conferences, picking teams and worrying about wicket conditions, but now after he finishes training, he uses his time to bond with Australia’s exciting batch of young talent, including Pat Cummins and Mitch Marsh.
“When I get back to the hotel, it’s pretty much my time of catching up with the boys and what I’m trying to do now is spend as much as I can with the young guys away from the cricket ground as well and learn a bit about them,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.
He added: “I’m trying to help them learn as fast as possible, so I’m really enjoying that role to tell the truth. I’m no doubt training as hard as ever and that’s important for me to keep that hard work up. I’m a lot more relaxed with the things I can do outside of the training paddock.”
Australia and South Africa travelled to Port Elizabeth on Thursday, ahead of the second ODI at St George’s Park tomorrow.
The tourists hold an important 1-0 advantage in the series after a 93-run rain-affected victory in Centurion on Wednesday. (ICC)
