Clarke replaces injured Ponting as skipper

Michael Clarke will captain Australia for the first time and Usman Khawaja will make an historic debut in next week’s final Ashes Test in the absence of injured skipper Ricky Ponting.

Clarke was promoted yesterday from vice-captain to lead the team after Ponting was ruled out with a fractured little finger.

Clarke will also captain Australia in the limited overs and Twenty20 matches against England following the Test series, with Cameron White his deputy.

Pakistan-born Khawaja will become the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia as Ponting’s batting replacement as the home side seeks to level the series.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was named vice-captain under Clarke for the Sydney Test, which gets underway on Monday.

X-rays revealed that during the fourth Test in Melbourne, won by England on Wednesday to retain the Ashes, Ponting had sustained further damage to a fractured little finger suffered earlier in the series.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland said the selectors had recommended Clarke assume the captaincy of the Australian team for the final Test and the one-day series against England.

“This recommendation was unanimously endorsed by (CA) directors,” Sutherland said, despite fans’ widespread opposition to Clarke in newspaper polls.

Clarke said he remained very much a stand-in captain in Ponting’s absence.

“No doubt I’ll take a lot of what I’ve learned from Ricky Ponting as a leader onto the field, I think his leadership has been outstanding,” Clarke told reporters.

“Obviously I’m honoured, it’s for this Test match and hopefully we can get Punter (Ponting) right as soon as possible and get him back into whichever team.

“Ricky’s been my leader, my captain from day one and I’m sure he’ll be back ASAP.

“No doubt (England) are playing really good cricket but it’s a great opportunity for us, it’s a huge Test match.”