Ponting struggling with captaincy burdens: Gilchrist

8220;I am sure he, like all of us, will have been worn down by a lot of the focus and a lot of the issues that have been around,8221; Gilchrist said.

8220;We seem to have jumped from one thing to another, whether they be highly controversial or just issues that need to be dealt with,8221; added Gilchrist, who made a century to lead Australia to victory over Sri Lanka in Perth on Friday.

8220;Things like the Pakistan tour hanging around, the IPL Indian Premier League, the Indian Test series and all the issues there in the Harbhajan Singh hearing.

8220;He has had to take the brunt of it and I think we have got to acknowledge that he does that and stands up and wants to do it, that is his job.8221;

Gilchrist, who is retiring from international cricket after the tournament, is not concerned about Ponting8217;s form in the long term.

8220;He is still running the team beautifully, captaining. Still very much Ricky Ponting,8221; Gilchrist said. 8220;We have got to rally around him and keep him going but he is a class act and he will be fine.8221;