Michael Clarke is confident he will prove any doubters wrong when he takes the field as Australia’s vice-captain during Australia’s tour of the West Indies next month.
Clarke has replaced Adam Gilchrist as Ricky Ponting’s deputy, meaning the 26-year-old is now officially the next in line to take on the role considered by many as the top job in Australian sport.
He has filled in for Gilchrist as vice captain in the past and has led the side to victory in two Twenty20 matches during the season.
“I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of people that are going to have questions and probably have their own opinions on me getting this opportunity,” Clarke said.
“But for me, Cricket Australia gave me the opportunity to captain the last couple of Twenty20 games and I think I did as well as I possibly could in those two games.”
Clarke, who was one of Australia’s stars with the bat this summer, said he had taken on board plenty of advice from Ponting, Gilchrist and a host of experienced captains throughout his career.
“I think throughout my career I’ve been pretty lucky. I field a lot in slips, which is normally somewhere near the captain, so I’ve spent a lot of time asking questions and trying to learn as much as possible,” he said.
“I think the advice I took away from Ricky and Adam and a lot of the other guys I spoke to helped me throughout the Twenty20 games and I hope that stands me in good stead.”
Clarke dismissed suggestions the vice captaincy was a reward for staying in the country and opting out of the lucrative Indian Premier League – which has recruited several Australians including Ponting and the now retired Gilchrist.
“I hope that’s not why they’ve picked me as the vice-captain”, Clarke said.
“I look at it as a reward for all the hard work I’ve done over the last 15 years of my life. It’s obviously something I’ve always wanted to do.
“I’m very lucky. I’m 27 years of age tomorrow, still so young in my career to have this opportunity.
“And I want to make the most of it so the people who still have their doubts, have their questions, can see I’m the right man for the job.”
Australian Test and one-day cricket squads announced today for next month's tour of the West Indies:-
Test: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (v-capt), Beau Casson, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Ashley Noffke, Andrew Symonds.
One-Day: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (v-capt), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Andrew Symonds, Cameron White.