Benaud rates Ponting as best ever Ashes captain

Sydney, Nov 14 (UNI) Former Australian captain Richie Benaud has rated Ricky Ponting as the best ever Ashes skipper ahead of Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh.

In his ultimate Ashes XII for the Alpha magazine, the former skipper rated Ponting ahead of the legendary stars and expressed confidence that the right-hander would come into his own as the leader of the side in the upcoming battle for the urn.

Ponting got Benaud's vote despite being the first Australian skipper in 20 years to lose the Ashes, when he led the side to a 1-2 defeat last summer in England.

''The last Ashes was a tough series for all the Aussies and, in particular, Ricky Ponting,'' Benaud was quoted by the 'Herald Sun' as saying.

''He is learning to be his own captain and is working out how best to use his senior players. There is no doubt he is a better and stronger captain than last year,'' he added.

Benaud said he rated Ponting as the best because the way he bounced back from the debacle. The former skipper felt the shock defeat last summer made Ponting a more determined leader and his ability would be there for all to see in the series starting November 23.

''When a series is lost there is always going to be a finger pointed and more (often) than not it's at the captain. He (Ponting) restocked and looked at how best to go about captaining and we are now seeing a stronger leader,'' Benaud said.

Another surprising selection made by Benaud in his Ashes XII was Adam Gilchrist, who was chosen over the legendary Rod Marsh by the former skipper.

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