Ashes 2023, ENG vs AUS: Ricky Ponting reveals he was approached for England's Test coach role

Just days after Australia snatched a narrow win from England in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting has revealed that he was approached for the England Test coach's role in 2022.

Before Brendon McCullum took over last year, Ponting said he was approached by Rob Key, who was then appointed as the English Cricket Board's new director of men's cricket.

"I actually got asked before Brendon took the job – there you go, you guys might be the first to find that out," Ponting told the Guerilla Cricket podcast.

However, the World Cup-winning Australian turned down the offer, as he wants to spend time with his family.

'But I'm just not ready for a full-time international coaching job, where I am at in my life. Having travelled as much as I have, with young kids now, I just don’t want to be away as much as I was,' he said.

The England Test side underwent a massive overhaul after a humiliating 4-0 Ashes loss Down Under last year.

Brendon McCullum was brought in as the Test coach while Ben Stokes was appointed captain after Joe Root stepped down.

The McCullum-Stokes pairing has breathed a new life into the English team with their attacking approach called 'Bazball' which has saw them win 11 out of 14 Tests played since June 2022.