'Clarke next Aus captain'

Ricky Ponting believes Michael Clarke is the obvious candidate to be Australia's next captain but he says Clarke does not need to be thrown into official on-field leadership roles yet.
John Buchanan, the team's former coach, said Clarke should be given a chance to captain New South Wales or stand in when Ponting and Adam Gilchrist are unavailable in the national side to help him develop his leadership skills.
Ponting, who turns 33 in December, wants to play until at least the next World Cup, meaning Clarke has plenty of time to prepare for the possibility of succeeding Ponting. "I am not going to be around forever, Gilly is not going to be around forever, we have to start building the next generation of leaders around the team and he (Clarke) is the obvious choice," Ponting told the Herald Sun.