All-conquering Australian one-day captain Ricky Ponting today welcomed the opportunity to succeed skipper Steve Waugh at the helm of the world’s best Test team.But Ponting emphasised his belief that Waugh would continue in the role for as long as he wished. Steve Waugh to bat for Test career Melbourne: Steve Waugh will be batting for his career in the remaining two Ashes Tests against England and has the backing of players to come through the challenge. Australia’s chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said today his four-man selection panel will pick 37-year-old Waugh for the remainder of the Ashes series. But after then, Waugh will be judged solely as a batsman and his glorious 17-year Test career could be over if he doesn’t get enough runs. There’s the option of public adoration in announcing his retirement before the final Sydney Test in the New Year, ensuring a fitting ending to his days in the baggy green. Or there’s the more Waugh-like option of gritting his teeth and continuing as long as possible, refusing to admit defeat, refusing to let Hohns or anybody else tell him what to do. (AFP) Rising speculation would have Waugh, 37, dumped by selectors at the end of the Ashes series against England early next year and replaced for the four-Test West Indies tour starting April.Ponting, 28, is a strong front-runner for the prestigious job because of his ease in adapting to the demands of leadership in the one-day game, after Waugh was relegated to the bench in the limited-overs line-up.Ponting’s side sits atop the current tri-nations series standings ahead of England, taking a third-straight win, crushing Sri Lanka by 142 runs at the WACA ground yesterday.Ponting’s talented team is to travel to southern Africa in February with strong prospects of retaining the World Cup one-day crown Australia won four years ago.“Things are working out pretty well for me in the one-day arena, but Steve is Test captain now and probably will be for as long as he wants to be if he keeps playing well,” Ponting said.
