SYDNEY, March 22:- Australia captain Steve Waugh told reporters to get their priorities in order after arriving home Friday to face questions about his future in the game.

Waugh, 36, who has led Australia to 3-0 and 2-1 victories in home and away test series against South Africa, has been dropped from the national one-day side.

There has been media speculation that Ricky Ponting, his replacement as one-day skipper, will also captain Australia in next month’s two-Test series in Zimbabwe.

“We’ve just won a series 5-1 but no-one has asked me about that,” Waugh told reporters at Sydney airport after returning from South Africa. “I think that priorities are wrong somewhere. Australian cricket is going really well.

“We’ve beaten supposedly the number two side in the world 5-1 and I haven’t been asked one question about it. So thanks guys.”

Waugh and twin brother Mark were both dumped from the national one-day team after Australia failed to qualify for the finals of the triangular series against New Zealand and South Africa in February.

Ponting will captain Australia in a seven-match one-day series in South Africa starting on Friday in Johannesburg.

The Australian selectors are expected to announce next week the squad for next month’s two-test tour of Zimbabwe.

Steve made only 95 runs at an average of 19.00 in Australia’s 2-1 series victory in South Africa. Mark made 169 at 33.80 in the three-Test series.

Meanwhile, Leg-spinner Shane Warne will miss the first two matches of Australia’s one-day series in South Africa because of a hamstring strain, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said Friday.

“Shane’s problem is not a major one but, with seven games in 19 days in this series, it makes sense for him to miss the first two matches which take place in the space of three days,” Australia physiotherapist Errol Alcott said in an ACB statement released on Friday.

The 32-year-old Warne carried the injury for the final two weeks of Australia’s 2-1 test series victory over South Africa, during which he took 20 wickets at an average of 22.10 in 162 overs.

Warne will be replaced for the first two one-day internationals by uncapped Queensland off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

“To get the call-up is amazing and a surprise but a pleasant one,” the 20-year-old Hauritz said in an ACB statement.

“When I was picked for the tour, I was hoping to play one game but, if I didn’t, then that wouldn’t have bothered me because just to come on the tour with the group of players in this squad is a great experience for me.

“I’m keen to learn as much as I can from everyone around me and it’s now up to me to show them what I can do.”

Ricky Ponting takes over as Australia’s one-day captain after the shock axing last month of World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh.

Darren Lehmann and Matthew Hayden were named in the Australia side after Steve and Mark Waugh were both left out of the one-day squad.