SYDNEY - The divisive Michael Clarke began his reign as Australia's new Test and one-day captain on Wednesday by denying former skipper Ricky Ponting's presence in the side would cause problems.

Long seen as heir-apparent, the stylish batsman, who turns 30 on Saturday, was appointed to one of the most coveted roles in Australian sport after Ponting bowed to pressure and quit on the heels of the team's World Cup exit.

Clarke jumps into the role immediately, leaving this week for a tour of Bangladesh as fans remain split on whether he is the right man for the job.

Ponting, who led Australia in more than 300 Test and one-day matches, will also be on the plane, taking orders from his former deputy for the first time after being named in the squad to play three one-dayers.

"First of all can I say what an honor it is to be named captain and also a huge surprise to see Ricky stand down," Clarke said, denying Ponting's desire to keep playing would overshadow him.

"I know Ricky will allow me to do my job to the best of my ability. Bangladesh will be a great test for that to see how it all unfolds."

Shane Watson was named as Clarke's vice-captain with Cameron White remaining the Twenty20 skipper.

Clarke's Test reign will start in August when he skippers a tour of Sri Lanka.

Although he was widely expected to get the job, Clarke is not popular with Australian fans and polls published on Wednesday showed the public's coolness towards him.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, only 26 percent of 21,000 respondents in an online poll favored him as the new captain.

In the Sydney Daily Telegraph, a survey of 8,500 readers placed him a distant third behind Watson and Michael Hussey.

A part-time underwear model, he regular appears in the social pages and he upset many when he controversially returned to Sydney during Australia's tour of New Zealand in March 2010 for "personal reasons".

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 03/31/2011 page22)