Michael Clarke was today appointed skipper of the Australian Twenty20 side, almost a month after incumbent Ricky Ponting quit the shortest format of the game to concentrate on Tests and one-dayers.
Allrounder Cameron White has been named Clarke’s deputy.
The 28-year-old Clarke said he is excited to lead the team in the newest form of the game and would try to follow in the footsteps of Ponting.
“I have learnt a lot from Ricky Ponting over the last few years and would continue to do so. I’m really excited to lead Australia in the newest form of the game,” Clarke said.
“Naturally, we’ll target the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean next year and I feel we have plenty of talent to genuinely mount a challenge in that tournament,” he added.
Clarke also praised White and said he will be good support.
“Cameron White will be an excellent deputy and his recent form has been quite outstanding. He is a great player,” Clarke said.
Ponting said Clarke has developed maturity in his game and had led the side perfectly in his absence.
“Michael has continued to grow as a player and a leader. We have developed a strong working relationship and he has always led the team well in my absence,” Ponting said.
“I am sure he will do a very good job with the Twenty20 team and I congratulate him and Cameron White on their appointments,” he added.
Cricket Australia’s CEO James Sutherland said he hoped to see the team getting good results under Clarke.
“Michael Clarke has supported Ricky Ponting excellently in the last couple of years and has been successful when called upon to lead the Australia ODI team on occasion, most recently in England and the UAE.”
“Michael will be supported in the Twenty20 vice captaincy by Cameron White, whose leadership qualities have been to the fore in recent months and are currently on show at the Champions League Twenty20, where he is leading Victoria in that tournament,” Sutherland said.
