Ponting 'happy' with 'Oz leadership legacy' despite criticism from Warne, Clarke

Former Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting has said that he is at peace with his legacy despite disparaging leadership comparisons with successor Michael Clarke from Shane Warne recently.

According to News.com.au, Warne has unloaded on old teammate Ponting, citing the 168-Test batsman's criticism of close friend Clarke in his autobiography At The Close of Play as driven by 'jealousy' at losing three Ashes series to England.

Ponting insisted that he had no free ride as skipper of a golden side, emphasising the exodus of titans including Justin Langer, Warne and Glenn McGrath in 2006-07, Adam Gilchrist in 2008 and Matthew Hayden in 2009, the report said.

He said that a lot of people thought of him captaining a great team although he had that team for three years but they all left in 2006.

He added that he took over from a young team, which was still able to maintain some pretty high standards and be competitive in every series they played.

He further said that he would be defined by three Ashes losses he had and as a leader that was destiny sometimes.

Ponting has also come in for a baking from Mark Taylor over his book but said the former Test skipper was also on Cricket Australia board during the national side's period of decline from 2004, according to the report.