PERTH, Dec 9: Seamer Nathan Bracken predicted new captain Michael Clarke would prove exciting for Australian cricket as they prepare to take on New Zealand in Tuesday’s Twenty20 clash at the WACA Ground.

With skipper Ricky Ponting and veteran opener Matthew Hayden rested for the match, 26-year-old Clarke has been handed the reins, and will become the youngest player to captain Australia in an international since Kim Hughes.

“He is going to add something fresh to the side,” Bracken said here Sunday of playing under his NSW team-mate.

“If he keeps bringing everything he has brought through the last two or three years of international cricket that I have played with him ... he will give us something else,” he said.

Bracken added that he believes the richly-talented Clarke has an astute cricket brain. “He’s going to be good and something exciting for Australian cricket.”

“His performances over the last two years have shown he is good enough at this level and he has got the brain to do it.” Bracken said the Twenty20 match was an important chance to run into form ahead of their bid to regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy from the Black Caps.—AFP