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Retired captain and batting great Ricky Ponting has been appointed as an assistant coach for Australia's upcoming men's World Cup campaign, as the defending champions look to arrest their recent poor form.
- Ricky Ponting will work with Australia's batters during the World Cup
- Ponting has previously been part of Australia's coaching staff on a short-term basis
- He won three World Cups as a player, including two as captain
Ponting's appointment for the World Cup in England comes as five-time champions Australia finds itself sitting in sixth position on the world one-day international rankings.
He will work with Australia's batting group, which is likely to include banned duo Steve Smith and David Warner.
Australia's regular batting coach Graeme Hick will focus on preparations for the following Ashes Test series in England.
"I've enjoyed my previous short-term roles with the ODI and T20 Teams but World Cups take on a whole different meaning for me," Ponting said in a statement.
"I have enormous confidence in the players available to the selectors and know we will be as tough to beat as any team in this year's World Cup."
Ponting worked with Australia coach Justin Langer and his predecessor Darren Lehmann on a temporary basis during limited overs tournaments last year.
Langer said Ponting's experience as a two-time World Cup winning captain would be invaluable.
"Ricky knows what's required to win World Cups and I know he will be a valuable mentor to not just the batting group, but the broader squad," he said.
"Ricky and I have worked together with the Australian men's team in the past, he is an extremely driven coach who is fully invested in the players' development and improving Australian cricket.
"He has an impressive understanding of the game, he knows what's required to prepare and perform at the elite level, and we can't wait for him to get started working with the squad."
Ponting will commence his role with the Australian team following its upcoming one-day international series against India and Pakistan.
The appointment comes only a day after a shake-up of Australia's coaching staff, with bowling coach David Saker announcing he was stepping down from his position.
Ponting played 375 one-day internationals for Australia, scoring 30 centuries and 82 half-centuries at an average of 42.03 and a strike rate of 80.39.
Aside from captaining Australia to World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007 he was also a member of the triumphant 1999 squad.
The World Cup begins on May 30, with the final to be played on July 14.
ABC/AAP