Reformed Ponting to captain Australia

Ricky Ponting, a former 'bad boy' of Australian cricket, will captain the team for the first time when they take on Somerset in a first-class tour match starting on Friday.

Ponting gets his chance after it was decided to rest captain Steve Waugh, vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, former vice-captain Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

"It's a bit of a buzz," he said. "I haven't thought too much about it yet actually, I only found out the other night...it'll be good, exciting."

The 26-year-old Tasmanian, who batted at number three during Australia's first test win over England last week, had been considered as captaincy material before he was involved in a series of controversial incidents.

Early in 1999 he was knocked unconscious at a Sydney nightclub and later sought counselling after admitting he sometimes drank too much.

The previous year he was fined after being involved in a scuffle at a Calcutta disco while on tour in India.

Ponting lost out to Gilchrist when Australia axed Warne as vice-captain in August last year.

Asked if he would like to captain Australia full-time one day, Ponting added: "I'd love to do it...so far, I haven't really thought too much about it or lost any sleep about not getting the vice-captaincy job.

"I've just got to keep doing the right things on and off the field and hopefully it does come my way."

Ponting will line up against Somerset captain and fellow Tasmanian Jamie Cox, who just missed out on selection for Australia's Ashes tour.

Mail Cricket Editor