KEY POINTS:
Ricky Ponting is acting like a man under pressure and I believe his days as the Australia captain are numbered.
Daniel Vettori's comments after the Brad Haddin glove incident were fairly innocuous, yet Ponting took it as a claim by the Black Caps captain that Haddin had cheated.
It reminded me of the acrimonious series between Australia and India last season when Ponting overreacted in feeling that his integrity was under question.
I've always liked Ponting, and he comes across as a good bloke.
Those who play with and under him like the man, but his reactions tell the story of someone under the hammer.
Michael Clarke's elevation to the captaincy for two mid-series one-dayers against the Black Caps won't radically alter the course of the series.
Clarke doesn't have time to change the Australian team culture, and they will be hurt by the loss of Ponting, their best batsman.
But I wouldn't be surprised if we are seeing a changing of the captaincy guard, that Ponting will take the team to South Africa at the end of this month before Clarke takes over for the Ashes in the middle of the year.
Traditionally the Australian selectors have little hesitation in wielding the axe and are less forgiving of their great players than any other side. Ponting is not a top-notch captain. He lacks an understanding of the nuances and subtleties which have made men like Stephen Fleming and Michael Vaughan such fine leaders.
It must be frustrating at times for a man such as Ponting, with a remarkable test batting record, to face so much criticism - including from former players - over his captaincy.
But that is the lot of an Australian captain, the second most important job in Australia behind that of Prime Minister. The scrutiny is intense, the judgments often damning.
And the evidence is mounting in every series that Ponting has neither the tactical nous nor the ability to inspire his players. Yes, he has lost some great contributors.
But it's the old story - if it walks like a duck and acts like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
This is about as inexperienced a New Zealand side as I can remember, which, given their strong chance of winning this series, says plenty about this Australian team.
The Kiwis continue to elevate unheralded players and among the newest batch, I don't see any genuine superstars of the future.
But that is the modern way. The odd brilliant newcomer will come along, but that is not the be-all and end-all of the game any more. The selectors are looking for players who can perform specific tasks, and also pick teams on a horses-for-courses basis.
A quick word on the Haddin incident.
The Australian wicketkeeper would have acted on instinct when he initially celebrated the Neil Broom out, even though Haddin's gloves rather than the ball had dislodged the bails.
By the time Haddin got to the huddle, however, he would have been aware of a nagging feeling that all was not quite right. Some argue he could have spoken up and had Broom recalled. But I wouldn't crucify the bloke.
International sport is a tough arena.
