Australia Name Clarke Captain, Watson Vice-Captain

Australia Name Clarke Captain, Watson Vice-Captain

New Australia captain Michael Clarke (right) with vice-captain Shane Watson

©REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Cricket Australia have named Michael Clarke as the successor to Ricky Ponting as captain of their Test and One-Day International teams.

All-rounder Shane Watson has been named as his vice-captain while Ponting has been picked to tour Bangladesh for three One-Day Internationals next month.

It bucks a recent trend of Australian captains standing down and not being selected following their decision to resign the captaincy.

"It is a great honour to be appointed captain of Australia but at the same time, a great surprise as I wasn't expecting Ricky Ponting to stand down,” Clarke said.

"I have always respected those who have come before me in this role and humbled to think of my name being mentioned alongside theirs.

"I am grateful to Ricky Ponting for what I have learned from him, to the selectors and Cricket Australia for this opportunity, and am looking forward to the challenges ahead." he said.

bet365 make Australia 11/4 to win back the Ashes under Clarke's control in 2013. Meanwhile, the 14-man squad to tour Bangladesh sees left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty return in place of Jason Krejza, who played during the World Cup and fast bowler James Pattinson effectively replace the retired Shaun Tait.

David Hussey has been left out as his wife is shortly due to give birth for the first time.

The three ODIs in Mirpur are on 9th, 11th and 13th April.

Australia ODI squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson (vice-captain), Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin, John Hastings, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Cameron White

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