Will Michael Clarke have safe hands as leader? © Getty Images

Daniel Brettig, writing for AAP, asks whether Michael Clarke can juggle all the leadership tasks when he takes over from the resting Ricky Ponting in the one-day series against Pakistan.

Former England batsman and administrator Doug Insole once defined a cricket captain's duties as those of a "public relations officer, agricultural consultant, psychiatrist, accountant, nursemaid and diplomat". Among a raft of boxes to be ticked during Australia's two-week limited overs joust with Pakistan in the Middle East, the most important is whether or not captain-elect Clarke can perform those duties.

In the absence of Ponting, Clarke will skipper the national side on tour for the first time, and so will be faced with all the occupational hazards and challenges that face a skipper overseas. Having already shown he is maturing into the leader Australian cricket will need beyond Ponting, Clarke is now faced with what amounts to a 14-day job interview.