Michael will get opportunity so why rush: Ponting

8220;I went pretty much from nowhere to the captaincy role and that seemed to work quite well, so there8217;s no rush for Michael8221; Ponting said.

8220;As long as he8217;s thinking like a vice-captain should around the group, then you get as much experience doing that as you do being vice-captain anyway. The vice-captain of a cricket team doesn8217;t really do a lot, he8217;s really there for me, to be a bit of a sounding board and bounce ideas off,8221; he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

Ponting said the 26-year-old Clarke was growing into a leader and would get his due at the appropriate time.

8220;The day will come when Michael gets his opportunity, it might not be right now, might not be six months, but I think the opportunity will come.

8220;I think it8217;ll happen if he stays in the side and stays playing the way he has for the last 12 months. He8217;s really growing into a leader around the group and that8217;s what you need.8221;

Ponting also praised Clarke, a former Australian under-19 skipper, as a deep thinker about the game, which was evident during his Twenty20 captaincy against New Zealand on Tuesday.

8220;Michael8217;s been good at coming to me and thinks about the game pretty well. That8217;s why I think he found himself as captain the other night.8221;

About Warne8217;s comments on the issue, Ponting said,

8220;Warney and Pup are very close and very good mates, I don8217;t know if he8217;s had a shot at Gilly. It8217;s more trying to start the evolution of Michael Clarke and pushing him into more responsibility in the team.8221;