Ricky Ponting has been asked by the Australian selectors to lead the team in the Commonwealth Bank tri-series ODI against Sri Lanka in Sydney on February 17 as Michael Clarke is nursing a hamstring injury and will be out of action in the next match.

An unusual move by the Australian think tank considering the fact that past captains are seldom given the top job again there, chief selector John Inverarity said that it was done after careful consideration. “The National Selection Panel (NSP) has asked Rickey Ponting if he would captain team in Michael Clarke's absence.”

However, former captain Steve Waugh fails to understand the logic behind the same and thinks vice-captain David Warner should have been given the chance. "If David Warner is in there as vice-captain, I assume they think he's leadership material and if he's vice-captain why can't he captain the side as well? Ricky will do it blindfolded but the future is probably David Warner, so I'm surprised they didn't go to Warner," Waugh say.