Clarke to captain Australia

2007-12-05 12:05

Sydney - Michael Clarke will captain Australia in their Twenty20 match against New Zealand in an apparent move to groom the batsmen as a future Test skipper.

Clarke will be skipper of Australia's 12-man squad for the one-off international on Tuesday at the Waca Ground, with regular captain Ricky Ponting rested for the Chappell-Hadlee Series warm-up game.

The 26-year-old Clarke is the third-youngest in the squad and was picked ahead of current vice-captain Adam Gilchrist.

"Adam is of the view obviously that he would like to captain his country, but was also really pleased with the initiative," said selectors' chairperson Andrew Hilditch.

"He (Clarke) certainly has all the credentials. He's very new to the game so it's seen as a very good opportunity in a new form of the game to express his own individuality and learn how to lead the side."

Clarke was surprised when Hilditch told him he would skipper the side in Perth, initially fearing he'd been dropped for the match.

"I was over the moon, I didn't know what to say," said Clarke. "It's the one thing I've always wanted to do and dreamt of since I was a kid."

- AP