Vics could have two skippers next season

MELBOURNE - Victoria may have two cricket captains next season with Matthew Elliott tipped to take over the leadership of the one-day side from Paul Reiffel.

While Reiffel, 35, has agreed to play on next season, he is not keen to participate in the domestic one day competition, instead preferring to save himself for the Pura Cup fixtures.

"That still hasn't been decided, and it's something I will have to talk about with the VCA (Victorian Cricket Association) but that may be the sensible way to go," Reiffel told AAP today.

"Certainly the workload is a lot heavier now that we play 10 one-day matches as well (as 10 four-day matches)."

If Reiffel was to retire from one-day cricket, the Bushrangers would need another leader for the one-day fixtures.

Reiffel said there were many excellent candidates to take over, including Elliott, who is believed to be favourite for the position.

"I'm sure Matty would do an excellent job," Reiffel said.

"But then you've also got Darren Berry, who was vice-captain last year, and I'm sure he'd do a fine job as well."

With next season likely to be Reiffel's last, the Vics are conscious of developing a new generation of leaders, which should favour Elliott over the 32-year-old Berry.

Elliott is also likely to be available for the Vics throughout the entire season after he was today dropped from the list of players contracted by the Australian Cricket Board.

Despite his waning interest in the limited overs game, Reiffel had no hesitation in backing up for another year at first-class level.

"You're a long time retired," he said of his decision to continue on next season.

"In the end I wanted to go on and the VCA wanted me to go on, so I will keep going."

Reiffel, who last year became the Vics' greatest ever wicket-taker in first-class cricket by surpassing Alan Connolly's record of 330 wickets, has made a big impact in his two years as captain of Victoria.

He has led the side to the Pura Cup final on both occasions, only to be pipped at the post by Queensland.

"It would be nice to go out on a winning note," Reiffel said.

"I managed to do that from international cricket (after he retired following Australia's 1999 World Cup win) but it was not really a motivating factor. "The main thing is I'm still enjoying it."