Ricky Ponting, the former captain of the Australian cricket team, alongside his fellow cricketer and long-time friend, Justin Langer, might miss their commentary on the first test against India in Perth, which will commence on November 22, due to the obligations of their respective IPL franchises ahead of the mega auctions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25.
As reported in Australian media ‘The Age’ In The previous statement, “There will be parts of the Perth Test where Channel Seven executives will be without Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer because of a clash in scheduling, which may result in Australia losing an important backroom coach ahead of the start of the high-profile Border-Gavaskar series due to a possible standing off with Indian cricket.”
Ponting, who has been appointed the head coach of the Punjab Kings, and Langer, who is set for his second season with Lucknow Super Giants, might be seated at the IPL auction table with their respective franchises where Australian team’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori of Sunrisers Hyderabad is also due to attend.
“Unless (Channel) Seven and Cricket Australia can insulate themselves from the aggressive cricket governing bodies in India, South Africa Coach Gary Kirsten and Australia assistant coach Dan Vettori will more likely be in Jeddah participating in the IPL’s mega player auction rather than attending the first Test at Optus Stadium on its final day,” the newspaper observed.
‘Seven’ has a seven year, AUD 1.5 billion, agreement with Foxtel regarding the transmission of the sport within Australia and even that, it is believed by many, will not prevent Langer or Ponting from appearing in the last three days of the Perth Test.
The previous year, cricket great Ricky Ponting, then in charge of the Delhi Capitals, departed on the third day of the Test match in Perth to attend the players’ auction. In contrast, his counterpart, Justin Langer, remained until the conclusion of the game. While in Australia last year, Vettori fulfilled his commitments and then went to an auction that took place two days after the Perth Test ended.
“Team source states: ‘For example, on Wednesday morning, there was no agreement on how the decision was going to be made on Vettori joining the team for the Test match or skipping it for the auction. The Age quoted,”
