CA backs Punter

CA’s chief executive James Sutherland also endorsed Ponting’s continuation as skipper upon return from his injury and quashed assumptions that a new captain would be appointed should the team lose the fifth and the final Ashes Test.

CA board unanimously endorsed a recommendation from the selection panel of Andrew Hilditch, Greg Chappell, David Boon and Jamie Cox, to appoint Clarke as captain for the Sydney Test in the absence of Ponting.

Ricky will undergo surgery to repair a broken left little finger in a bid to lead the side in the one-day World Cup in February.

“There’s no question of looking beyond the immediacy of this Test match… and (Ponting’s) return ahead of the World Cup, which we’ve obviously flagged as being incredibly important, which is why he’s being wrapped in cotton wool from now,” Sutherland was quoted as saying by The Age.

Ponting said that he had no intention of giving up the captaincy despite his record as the first skipper since 1890 to have lost the Ashes urn three times.
“I think I’ve got a lot to offer as a player and as the captain of the Australian team,” he said.