Batting legends Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer will have to leave their commentary duties midway through the first Australia versus India Test in Perth due to the IPL auctions.
The mega auction is slated to be held in Jeddah on November 24 and 25. The two-day event will clash with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener, starting November 22.
The Age reported that Ponting and Langer have chosen the IPL auction over their commentary assignments for Chennel 7.
While Ponting was recently named the head coach of the Punjab Kings after he parted ways with the Delhi Capitals, Langer is associated with the Lucknow Super Giants as the chief coach.
The presence of Ponting and Langer at the auction table is crucial for PBKS and LSG as both franchises are seeking a new captain ahead of the IPL 2025 season.
Initially, Ponting thought that the grand auction would take place between the Test matches but it wasn't to be as he called it the "worst possible" case.
“It’s the worst possible case scenario for me and ‘JL’,” Ponting said. “We for the last couple of months felt that it was probably going to be in the gap between the Test matches. It takes all the pressure off the players from both teams, there’s a lot of players in both teams in the auction.
“So I always thought it would’ve been in that gap because it just seemed better for everybody. But I don’t know why they’ve chosen the dates they have – it might have something to do with the game. The auction actually starts on air almost immediately after the end of play. So it might be something to do with broadcast," he added.
Ponting revealed he would be departing for Jeddah after performing commentary duties on Day 1 of the Perth Test. “I’m calling the first day then flying out late Friday night to Jeddah. The auction is the 24th and 25th and then depending on how we’re going through our auction, we’ll see when I can return. Hopefully I’ll get back for the end of Perth, and if not I’ll be back on deck for the start of Adelaide.”
Channel 7 confirmed Ponting and Langer would be back for the second Test, slated to get underway on December 6 at the Adelaide Oval.
“The IPL auction involves the world’s best coaches and analysts in the game, and we are privileged enough to have two of them on our broadcast all summer long,” Chris Jones, Channel 7 director of sport, said.
“Alongside Sunil Gavaskar, who knows the travelling side better than anyone, both Ricky and Justin are uniquely placed as IPL coaches to bring unrivalled insights to viewers about the Indian and Australian players, which further strengthens our live and free coverage.
“We look forward to welcoming both Ricky and Justin back for the Adelaide Test from Friday, 6 December, where they will share all the action from behind the scenes at one of international cricket’s biggest events.”
