'The boys love him': Australia's secret weapon in bid for World Cup glory
Pat Cummins explains what it’s like having Aussie legend Ricky Ponting as an assistant coach during Australia’s World Cup campaign.
By Pat Cummins
Ricky Ponting has been a brilliant addition to the touring party for this tournament.
For a guy who played 168 Tests and 375 one-dayers, he still brings so much energy, expertise and love of the game.
The boys love having him around. He’ll take some of them out for golf every couple of days, others out for coffee.
You rarely see him walking around without Davey Warner or Glenn Maxwell hanging off his hip. We joke that they’re his two little kids that he carries around.
The boys love him.
He’ll throw balls for hours in the nets and talk to every batsman after training and games, but his impact is so much more than that.
He’s a cricket ‘snuff’ and still spends so much time watching the game.
That, as well as his experience of being captain of the world’s best team for 10 years, is giving us great insight into opposition players.
He’s great to talk to, always really relaxed and a big influence around the group.
We have an advantage in that six of us were in involved in the 2015 Cup. It’s a massive difference because they’ve done it before and you know the other teams realise that.
Experience helps you relax and concentrate on your skills and big moments don’t overawe you as much as maybe they did at the start of your career.
Looking over and seeing Punter, a man who won three World Cups and two as captain, gives you an extra boost.