Cricket: Ponting choice a bitter pill for Warne

POTCHEFSTROOM - Shane Warne has become the latest senior Australian cricketer to needle the national selection panel after his one-day captaincy ambitions were almost certainly extinguished.

Warne wanted to know why he was appointed vice-captain for a one-off match last month if the selectors had no intention of handing him a permanent role after Steve Waugh's axing last week.

Ricky Ponting has been named the new one-day captain and Adam Gilchrist remains the deputy. Warne was left confronting the likelihood that he will never again lead his country in a one-day match.

The champion legspinner became a genuine contender last month when he returned to a leadership role in Gilchrist's absence for the first time since much-publicised off-field incidents in New Zealand and England.

"When I was appointed vice-captain this year when Gilly wasn't there I thought my chances were pretty good and I was pretty upbeat," Warne said.

"But in the end, it didn't happen, mate. That's the way it goes.

"I suppose, from my point of view, why wouldn't they have just appointed Ricky then?

"Those two [Ponting and Gilchrist] got the roles and I came a pretty close last. I'm only human, so I was pretty disappointed this morning when I got the call.

"When I was appointed vice-captain this summer it got my hopes up."

The four-man selection panel has been under fire since it dropped Waugh from the national one-day team last week after 325 matches, including 106 as captain.

Waugh said the timing was not ideal on the eve of Australia's tour of South Africa.

Coach John Buchanan expressed his disappointment over the decision, admitting that he had not been consulted.

But Warne pledged his full support to Ponting as the Australian test squad prepared for the opening match of their tour against South Africa A in Potchefstroom.

"I was a bit disappointed but I am sure Ricky will do a very good job," Warne said, rating himself the "ugly third sister".

"He has my full support, no drama whatsoever.

"I came a close third - deputy vice-captain, I think I am. They have my full support. If I can help them out, I will."

The captaincy announcement was not a ringing endorsement for Warne's long-term future in the one-day arena, after 175 matches and 268 wickets.

Warne, 32, remains Australia's premier slow bowler in the limited-overs arena and he wants to be a central part of the World Cup defence in Africa next year.

"I still think I have a big role to play. If they don't think I have, then so be it," Warne said of the selectors.

Australia's senior brigade has realised its mortality in cricket terms since Waugh was turfed out after 17 seasons in one-day international cricket.

The three "Ws" - Waugh, Warne and Mark Waugh - have been a constant feature for Australia during a standout era, playing 149 matches together. But Warne stays the most bankable player of the trio.

Mark Waugh is on shaky ground before the selectors this week name the squad for next month's one-day series in South Africa.

"I think once you drop the captain it just proves the old adage that no one is certain of a spot no matter what your record is like and how well you are playing," Warne said.

"If the selectors decide they want to go a certain path with certain players, that is what they will do and you just have to cop it on the chin."

As for Ponting, he promised an aggressive, open style of leadership.

He will take over on March 22 when Australia play the first of seven one-day internationals against South Africa before heading to Zimbabwe for three matches.

He has served a long apprenticeship, which has not been without its problems, including a drunken incident in a Kings Cross nightspot after a day-night international match in Sydney four seasons ago.

But Ponting insisted he had since grown as a person and a cricketer and would have the respect of his team-mates after 131 one-day matches and 53 tests.

He has always been a fierce competitor and he promised to maintain that attitude when he became Australia's 16th captain.

"I would like to continue playing aggressive, attacking cricket and be very open with my team-mates," Ponting said. "With the bowlers, I'll be more likely to give them the fielding positions they want rather than being too strong-minded."

- AGENCIES