Clarke facing toughest test as Ponting’s successor

MICHAEL CLARKE faces a “sink-or-swim” challenge when he takes over from the injured Ricky Ponting as Australia captain in the Sydney Test.

Clarke could hardly have inherited the role at a trickier time, when his own batting form has deserted him and Australia are in grave danger of losing the Ashes outright on home soil for the first time in 24 years.

His opposite number Andrew Strauss notes that Clarke has been groomed as Ponting’s long-term successor for several years.