Ricky Ponting invests in Century Cricket as tech-driven cricket model expands

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The former Australia cricket team captain, Ricky Ponting, has joined Century Cricket Centres as an investor and global ambassador, taking an active role in the company’s coaching and talent-identification strategy as the technology-led cricket business expands into new markets.

Ponting has become an initial ambassador investor and will serve as Century Cricket’s lead global advisor for coaching and talent identification programs.

His involvement will extend beyond a traditional ambassadorial role, with Ponting set to contribute to the development of coaching programmes, player pathways and talent-identification initiatives. The partnership is designed to combine his elite-level cricket expertise with Century Cricket’s technology and data-driven approach to player development.

Commenting on the occasion, Rickey Ponting said, “Century Cricket will be the future of cricket coaching and talent identification. I did not hesitate to become involved from the very first time I was presented with the ambitions of the company. The technology is a game changer, and it will allow cricket lovers of all standards to engage, improve and have an experience in cricket, not offered by anyone else. The new Bryant Park facility in New York will be an extraordinary showcase for the world to see what Century Cricket offers.”

Chris Millard, CEO of Century Cricket, added, “Ricky investing in Century Cricket and committing to play an active role in what we’re building is a huge endorsement of our ambition. There are very few people in world cricket who combine his playing pedigree, leadership, coaching experience and understanding of the game across the global landscape.

“What excites us most is that this goes far beyond an ambassador relationship. Ricky will help shape how Century Cricket develops players, identifies talent and uses technology and data to create a better cricket experience. Our ambition is to make world-class cricket development more accessible, engaging and connected for players everywhere, and having Ricky alongside us as both an investor and advisor is incredibly powerful as we build Century Cricket globally.”

Clayton Glenister, incoming Chairman of Century Cricket, continued, “Ricky’s addition to Century Cricket goes well beyond his standing as one of the game’s greatest ever players. Having built and led at the highest levels of the sport, he brings a rare combination — the credibility that comes from a lifetime in cricket, paired with a sharp commercial instinct and genuine business acumen. As we scale Century Cricket across new markets, having someone who understands both the game and how to build enduring value around it is invaluable. We couldn’t be more excited to have him join us on this journey.”

The company is also strengthening its presence in North America, with a flagship facility planned near Bryant Park in Manhattan. The 24/7 centre will combine indoor cricket infrastructure with technology-led performance analysis and training.

Ponting brings 17 years of international experience to the venture, having scored more than 27,000 international runs and captained Australia to two Cricket World Cup titles. His post-playing career has included coaching, mentoring and broadcasting.

His investment comes as sports businesses increasingly look to combine athlete expertise, technology and participation infrastructure. For Century Cricket, Ponting’s involvement could provide both credibility and specialist cricketing expertise as it seeks to develop a global network of technology-enabled centres and build a wider player-development ecosystem.

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