Clarke not ready for captaincy yet: former Australian players

Former Australian Test stars are yet to be convinced of Michael Clarke's leadership skills and insisted that Ricky Ponting must lead Australia to England for Ashes revenge in 2013.

Test vice-captain Clarke ignited the captaincy debate when he spoke of his determination to one day claim the highest office in Australian cricket.

The former players questioned Clarke's capacity to be a Test captain.

Ian Healy said the 28-year-old is yet to prove himself as Ponting's successor.

"Michael Clarke has not convinced me that he's durable enough to be a captain," Healy, the long-serving deputy to Mark Taylor, was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph.

"Clarkey has to get on the field -- that's an issue he has to address before we ask who should replace Ricky. Michael has missed a lot of games lately and that's not a good sign. He should not come into the equation at all until Ricky Ponting wants a succession plan."

"I would like to see Ricky Ponting muster the energy to go to the next Ashes and get that right," Healy said.

Healy found an ally in former Test captain Kim Hughes, who expressed concern about Clarke's health and claimed Ponting would finish his career as a great leader. "Ricky Ponting's efforts in India last month is some of the best leadership I've seen in decades," Hughes said.

"He was simply magnificent. To triumph in India, when we were 2-1 down, with all the injuries, his leadership was outstanding."

But former Test keeper Steve Rixon believes Clarke should be groomed for the top job sooner rather than later.

"I don't want to see Clarke coming into the role as a 32-year-old. No one will want that."

Last updated on Nov 21^st, 2009 at 18:57 pm IST--IANS