Ponting backs captain Clarke India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has endorsed Michael Clarke as his successor to captain Australia's Twenty20 side. Cricket Australia is yet to announce who will lead the team following Ponting's decision to retire from Twenty20 internationals to concentrate on his Test and one-day career, but Ponting believes the 28-year-old Clarke, who was skipper for Australia's first three one-day internationals against England, has earned his stripes. ''Michael has done a terrific job in my absence, be it in Twenty20 or 50-over cricket. He's continued to grow as a player and a leader,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying. ''I know Cricket Australia said at my announcement they'd wait until later in the year before they name the captain, but Michael's done everything right and deserves the first crack at it,'' Ponting added.