Ponting named Australia captain
Ricky Ponting has been asked to step back into the role of Australia captain after skipper Michael Clarke was ruled out of their one-day triangular series match against Sri Lanka on Friday.
Ponting stepped down from the role after last year's World Cup on the sub-continent and was replaced by Clarke. The Tasmanian has remained in the side but after Clarke sustained a mild hamstring strain Ponting was asked to don the armband on a temporary basis.
Opening batsman David Warner had been the official vice-captain of the one-day team, but Inverarity said they were not keen on placing too much pressure on the 25-year-old who has played only 13 ODI matches.
"David Warner is a young player making his way," chairman of selectors John Inverarity said. "He displays considerable leadership potential, but the (selection panel) is of the view that he should not, at this moment, have the added responsibility of captaincy thrust on him.
"David has been gaining valuable experience under Michael Clarke's captaincy and now he will have the opportunity to grow his leadership skills further as vice-captain to Ricky Ponting."
Clarke's injury, sustained in his side's four-wicket loss to India in Adelaide on Sunday, was not considered serious and he had been included in Australia's 14-man squad with the hope he would be fit again for their match against India in Brisbane on Sunday.
Pace bowler Ryan Harris had also been released to recover from several "minor niggles", Inverarity said, with Brett Lee and Ben Hilfenhaus brought back into the squad.
Lee had initially been ruled out of the series after he broke a bone in his foot earlier this month and was expected to take up to six weeks to recover.
"Brett is making a good recovery from his toe injury and will be given rigorous fitness tests before Friday's fixture," Inverarity said.
Comment 1 - 18 of 18
Not even the Aussie great, Steve Waugh cannot understand the reasons for this bizzare selection of Ponting as Captain when there is a Vice Captian already in the team!! I guess, for a Aussie, Warner is a better diplomat than you give credit for. What a shame the same cannot be said about Ponting!
Why on earth CA appoint a Vice Captain if they are going to appoint someone who has no official capacity other than being a player like the rest!! With the exception of Australia, in any other country, in the absence of regular Captain, Vice Captain is almost certain to take over the helm, but not in Auss. After all, Ponting is just about hanging on to his place in the Aussie team. People can understand his appointment had he managed to get at least double figures in the last game. It must be a kick in the gut for the current Vice Captain of Australia. I guess he must be a 'stand by' Captain for Ponting just as khawaja was in the last Ashes series against England!! I only hope Sri Lankan's can concentrate playing cricket to beat the lot and Ponting can keep his mouth shut for at least 2 overs!!
Ponting is a cheating c'unt always has been always will be!
He may be a Taz through and through, but by 'eck if the chips were down he's the kind of character I would like on my side. So many diPstick type comments. Ok he's an Aussie and yes he's got a fiery temperament but no one can take anything away from his records. Good on ya Punter good to see you back in form now ffs retire soon at the pinnacle mate. A Pom who remembers when cricket was the yardstick for fair play and good sportsmanship. I for one can salute an excellent and cricketer when I see one.
he's a world cup winning captain isnt he?? he's one of the best batsmen isnt he? so shut your mouth haters....
Well I know for certain England would have loved Ricky Ponting to have been born here, he was a great player and a very good Captain, one of the best
This is for one match only, fgs. People just like to create a mountain out of a mole hill and if there is nothing to be cynical then they will find something anyway. Just pathetic comments.
The Aussies need to win this tournament for their own benefit as well as the Aussie people, and they will do what's needed to achieve it.
Ponting is a fabulous player, maybe on the wane now, but he was captain of the best post-war side to take the field and he played no small part in heading the team. If Warner isn't complaining then there is no reason for you lot to do so, pity is that we do not have Ponting at our disposal.
Backward step, my a...se!!
man for the job...i'd say...
can't see what else they could have done, 'Wispy' Warner is carrying enough weight already.
I'm a Pom and punter is the best player i have ever seen.. Typical steely determination expected of an ozzy skipper, shame our skippers aren't more like him, nearest we got was Nasser!
This is a serious step backwards, I can only imagine Australia are desperate for leadership, shame the Aussie side dont have as much brain as brawn. The poison dwarf will cause some controversy i've no doubt, typically negative.
As usual some rear end comment here from `P`.(Pr@t,).....a foolish person that belongs in the zoo!!!!!!!
Say whaaaaat!!? This has-been big-mouthed disrespectful turd is back to captain a bunch of has-beens living-in-past-glories numbheads??!! It shows they are desperate and have no forward thinking. Typical Australians..
Appointing Rickety Ponting as Captain of barking Auss is a backward step for CA and a smack on the face to any young cricketer with ambition who is already in the Auss team. I fail to see why CA pick a old crock when their is a urgent need to look for the future to groom a young gun instead. I suppose that explains why the Aussies are in down and under!!
Good to see him back in the job!, should never have lost it . His side at the time was beaten by a better one,simple as that. welcome back Punter.
'I can see.'... as always sweet 'P' puts the mockers on another cricket team, they must all be feeling punch drunk, a SriLankan win he considers a 'major upset', so we all know who he expects to win, this time he's got it right, now there's a change!...Ned Kelly
Nice to be able to "see" in the future, perhaps there is something we dont know?
Now that Motor Mouth Ponting is captaining Auss in Clarkes absence, I won't be at all surprise if there won't be any disagreements in the game against Sri Lanka. Ponting is like, adding fuel to a fire and there will be some fireworks on Friday!! I can see the Sri Lankan's causing a major upset by beating the Auss and driving Ponting to submission!!
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