Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, will join the support team led by Justin Langer, the new head coach, for the England series, Cricket Australia announced on Wednesday, 6 June.

Ponting, who is already in England on commentary duty, will work with the squad from June 10, reports www.icc-cricket.com.

Coming into the role, Ponting coached the Delhi Daredevils franchise in the Indian Premier League in April-May this year.

He also coached Australia’s T20I side alongside Langer in a home series against Sri Lanka in 2017, and Darren Lehmann, the former Australia head coach, in the tri-series against England and New Zealand, which Australia won earlier this year.

Langer said that Ponting’s inclusion in the support team will be of great value.

‘Ricky is one of the greats of the game, and since he was already in England doing some commentary we saw it as a great opportunity to have him join our team for this important series,’ he said.

‘We have played a lot of cricket together and coached alongside each other previously, and he will also know many of the players already through his work with the team over the past two summers and his BBL commitments.

‘Ricky’s knowledge of the game is second to none, and we know that his experiences, tactical expertise and leadership will be invaluable for this group, as we start to build a team capable of winning a World Cup in these conditions in a year’s time.’

Australia will play two warm-up games against Sussex and Middlesex, followed by a five-match ODI series and a lone T20I.