Though he had his reservations about stepping in as stand-in captain against Sri Lanka in absence of Michael Clarke, who is nursing a hamstring injury, nevertheless Ricky Ponting is excited about leading Australia's cricket team one last time.

"I decided to do what they wanted me to do and what I felt was probably right for the team right at the moment," Ponting told reporters on Thursday, adding, "We've got a few of our experienced guys out on the sidelines at the moment, and I know Dave Warner had been named vice-captain at the start of the one-day series and the selectors made it very clear why they haven't given him the captaincy for this game.  I'm excited about leading the team again but hopefully it's only for a very short period of time," said Ponting.

Earlier many, including former captain Steve Waugh, have expressed their surprise in the appointment of Ricky Ponting as Australia’s stand in captain.


Waugh had said that he failed to understand the logic behind the appointment of Ponting as captain and thought 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 said.

However, Warner had said his own modest record in the ODI - 268 runs at 20.61 in 13 matches - was a valid reason not to thrust the top job upon him just yet. "I'm enjoying being the vice-captain to Michael Clarke. Ricky is an experienced guy who has led Australia for so many years and playing under him will be an enriching experience,” said Warner.