Ponting expresses wish to coach Australia in future

Mumbai Indians coach Ricky Ponting on Wednesday expressed a desire to work with Australia's current crop of Test batsmen, suggesting helming the national team in the future is something that appealed to him.

"I would love to be working with (David) Warner and (Steve) Smith along with some of the young guns like (Usman) Khawaja and (Joe) Burns -- that will be a lot of fun," the three-time World Cup winner was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"I know I will thoroughly enjoy it, but right now I have the Big Bash commentary and two months with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. The rest of the time I like to spend time with my family."

But Ponting ruled out taking up a consultancy role and will only accept an offer that had "continuity".

But he didn't reveal any time frame for the coaching job with Australia, but hinted it might be only after 2019 World Cup.

"To be honest, I have not thought that far ahead (to 2019), (but) thinking about it now, my family will be a lot older, the girls will be nearly teenagers then so maybe I'll want to be getting out of the house (laughs)," he said.

"I love everything about being involved with a team. That is what my life has been about - it is about being in cricket changing rooms and trying to figure out ways to be a better player, or as a coach now I'm always trying to find ways of improving others."

"If I can improve as a coach this year and I can improve the players, that is a step in the right direction," he concluded.