Ponting says there's merit in multi-captains theory

Ricky Ponting has come out in support of his former Australian coach John Buchanan's proposed multi-captains theory for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Ponting said Buchanan's new plan has "merit" and needs to be tried out before being dismissed as outrageous, as some critics have termed it.

Ponting said he had heard about Buchanan's idea though he wasn't sure how exactly it would pan out on the field. "I think there is some merit in it," Ponting, who is not part of the tournament, told AAP. "We'll see how it works at the end of this IPL."

Ponting said Buchanan's idea had been tried in Australian domestic cricket a few years ago by Tasmania, who were led on the field by two captains, Dan Marsh and Geroge Bailey. "One was doing the field placings and one was doing the bowling changes," he said. "So it just sort of lightened the load up I guess on the actual captain on the field and gave him a bit more opportunity to think about different things."

Going by that example, Ponting said, Buchanan deserved to be heard. "I don't see there's a lot of problems with it. The more experience you can get into a lot of guys as far as leadership goes can only benefit your group."

As soon as the word spread about Buchanan's radical new step it stirred a raging debate, which transformed into a controversy when Sourav Ganguly, Kolkata's captain last year, said he was not "consulted" by Buchanan. Matters worsened and the top management was forced to meet at team owner Shah Rukh Khan's residence to calm things down. At the end of the meeting, attended by Ganguly and Buchanan, a statement said a group of "strategists" would help the on-field captain in the decision making.

Ponting said he was aware of Ganguly's concern which, he said, was only fair. "But it seems like it's a bit more of a sensitive situation at the moment with Sourav being captain and maybe not wanting to give up that actual role, which you can understand as well," Ponting said.