Warne backs Ponting to stay on as captain

Shane Warne believes Ricky Ponting is the best man to captain Australia to an Ashes triumph this summer, despite his criticism of Ponting's field placements last week. Warne wrote on his own website that there was no rift between him and Ponting, and that "Never at any stage did I say or imply that Ricky's time as captain is up".

However, the former fast bowler Geoff Lawson has raised the idea of taking the captaincy off Ponting so he can focus on his batting. The issue has occupied plenty of airtime on sports talkback radio stations over the past week, but Warne doesn't agree with the many callers who think Ponting's reign should end.

"Ricky, to me, is the right man to lead Australia for the Ashes," Warne wrote. "It's a great opportunity for him to show his leadership and captaincy skills. He also looks in super touch with the bat; I am sure he's going to fill his boots this summer.

"This Ashes series is going to be the biggest of his and the Australian team's career. I think Ricky is at his best when he shows his Tassie devil side which is, aggressive with a dash of flair."

Although Ponting was disappointed with Warne's tweet about the fields set for Nathan Hauritz, the pair later made up by SMS. Warne said he found it "staggering, but not surprising" that his original tweet was reported as a falling-out between he and his former team-mate Ponting.

"My tweet about Ricky's fields for Nathan Hauritz for two overs has been portrayed as a rift between myself and the Australian captain and journos have tried to start a slanging match between us; what rubbish. Commentators on the match, cricket journalists and even the Indian captain, MS Dhoni, have agreed with my tweet. It was an observation, not an attack!"