Australian cricket suffering from brain drain: Ponting

At a time when questions are being raised on Australian cricket following their recent slump, former skipper Ricky Ponting has identified a crucial problem, saying it is suffering a brain drain as greats choose the cashed-up commentary box ahead of coaching.

With Rod Marsh quitting from the post of Cricket Australia chairman of selectors, Ponting, Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie are in the line to take up the role as the chief selector.

"Cricket Australia know this, I've been telling them this for a hundred years, they have to look at maybe paying state coaches more and trying to get the so-called experts in the game," Ponting was quoted as saying by news.com.au.

"And it's the same in England. If you look through the greats of the game, how many of those guys are actually back inside the system coaching somewhere? "They're not. They're all sitting back behind a microphone commentating because they get paid more and it's less intrusive time-wise. I think it's something that needs to be looked at," he added.

Meanwhile, Trevor Hohns has been named Australia's interim chairman of selector following Marsh's resignation from the role, with former Test great Greg Chappell also joining the national panel on interim basis to rescue the team from current crisis situation.

Marsh, who is due to finish his contract in June, stood down from the post in the wake of Australia's fifth consecutive Test defeat, including an innings and 80 runs defeat at the hands of South Africa in the second match in Hobart.

Hohns had previously served on the national selection panel from 1993 to 2006, including 10 years as chairman.

Chappell, on the other hand, has had two previous stints as a national selector, first from 1984 to 1988, shortly after his retirement from the game, and then from 2010 to 2011, before taking up the role of national talent manager.

Cricket Australia will now look for its permanent national selectors, with no deadline having been set for the same.