Shane Warne may have voiced his choice of Michael Clarke as the vice-captain
ahead of veteran Adam Gilchrist but captain Ricky Ponting feels
the youngster did not really need to be his deputy before taking over reins of
the team.
Warne yesterday suggested the name of close friend and "maturing"
batsman Clarke to replace Gilchrist as Ponting's deputy.
"I went pretty much from nowhere to the captaincy role
and that seemed to work quite well, so there's no rush for Michael" Ponting
said.
"As long as he's thinking like a vice-captain should around the group,
then you get as much experience doing that as you do being vice-captain anyway.
The vice-captain of a cricket team doesn't really do a lot, he's really there
for me, to be a bit of a sounding board and bounce ideas off," he was quoted
as saying by the 'Herald Sun'.
Ponting said the 26-year-old Clarke was growing into a leader
and would get his due at the appropriate time.
"The day will come when Michael gets his opportunity, it might not be
right now, might not be six months, but I think the opportunity will come.
"I think it'll happen if he stays in the side and stays playing the way
he has for the last 12 months. He's really growing into a leader around the
group and that's what you need.
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