Chappell backs Clarke to excel as Oz skipper

MELBOURNE - Australia’s full-time selector Greg Chappell believes Michael Clarke will deliver the goods if he is asked to captain the national squad in the forthcoming Melbourne Test.

With incumbent skipper Ricky Ponting having a finger fracture, chances of Clarke taking over the squad in Melbourne have brightened.

“Michael is our next captain. Whenever that might be - we’re hoping it’s not for a while yet - we’re happy with his skills as a captain. He’s done it a number of times now in one-day cricket, his tactical nous is very good,” The Age quoted Chappel, as saying.

He added: “There’s no doubt he’s ready for it. What I was alluding to was that when the handover comes we’d love him to be in the peak of his form so he hasn’t got that problem on his shoulders as well. I certainly wasn’t trying to suggest there was any problem there.”

Speaking to Channel Nine on Saturday, Chappell had said: “If we’re going to replace Ricky, we’ve got to make sure we’ve got someone that we’re confident has the right frame of mind who can take over and do a good job.

“And I don’t know that we’ve got somebody that we feel we want to rush Ricky Ponting out the door at this moment. ‘There is nobody absolutely ready for it. I don’t think there are too many other players I’d want to put that pressure on,” he had said then. (ANI)