Clarke to captain Australia

Sydney - Michael Clarke will captain Australia against England in the final Ashes Test next week in the absence of injured skipper Ricky Ponting, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.

Vice-captain Clarke was promoted to captain after Ponting was ruled out with a fractured little finger.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was named vice-captain under Clarke for the Sydney Test, which gets underway on Monday.

X-rays revealed that during the fourth Test in Melbourne, won by England on Wednesday to retain the Ashes, Ponting had sustained further damage to a fractured little finger suffered earlier in the series.

Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja will make his debut as Ponting's replacement with the bat, while paceman Doug Bollinger returned in a 12-man squad after Ryan Harris suffered a stress ankle fracture in the Melbourne Test.

Australia - Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice-capt), Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Mike Hussey, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Michael Beer (12th man to be named).