HOBART – “Ricky Ponting announces comeback” – well, sort of.
Ponting’s management company momentarily sent the cricket world into a spin with a tweet announcing the return of the former Australian captain on Wednesday afternoon.
Twitter followers were then told the 38-year-old, who retired from all forms of cricket this year, was doing a press conference in his home town Launceston, where he was promoting his controversial memoir.
It turned out the media appearance was to announce he would play in a pub-sponsored Twenty20 competition with his old Tasmanian club, Mowbray.
The Aussie 15s will begin this month to welcome the new drop-in pitch at AFL venue Aurora Stadium.
The competition’s experimental rules include 15 players on each team, which are reported to include other guest stars.
Ponting will debut for the Star Bar Slashers on November 27.