Former Australian skipper, Ricky Ponting never played the role of a selector during his tenure as the captain but wants the current skipper Tim Paine to take accountability of selection. Australia is currently reeling at their lowest after India won their maiden Test series on Australia soil in 71 years as the rain gods ruined the final two days of the SCG Test.

While Australia’s misfiring batting order has faced a barrage of criticism, issues of selection to have come to the fore what with Nathan Coulter-Nile labeling communication from selectors as poor.

Talking to cricket.com.au., Ponting said, “I said when I was playing, as captain I was desperate to be an actual selector. To be accountable and to be able to communicate well among your players, I thought it was vital that the captain could pass on his views to the players directly. I’d like to see the captain become a selector. It just makes communication easier, it makes it clearer, if the players know it’s coming from the captain, someone who’s there working with them on a daily basis. I’ve said it for years that I’d like to see it that way.”

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Paine, who has been often been consulted on selection matters, does not want to get into the selection, at least while he’s still captain. He feels tha already he has enough responsibilities in his hands and he is happy when he has been asked for his opinion. 

On the other hand, Ponting reckons that formalizing Paine’s role in the selection committee will make it more accountable.

Ponting elaborated, “He’s doing that (having a say in selection) anyway. It’s no different (if Paine was a selector), except he has full accountability around the group then. “I’m sure it probably gets to the stage (currently) at times when Tim might not get a certain player in the team that he wants. That’s what I’ve always felt about it. It would be a much more open and honest environment if he was a selector, I think.”