Buchanan said the Gilchrist's presence was required in the Australian team.

"Adam is still a person that most people in the team can learn a lot of things from. Having him still in that role of vice-captain is important for the team and also for Ricky Ponting," Buchanan was quoted as saying in The Age on Friday.

Buchanan was of the view that time was still not ripe to replace Gilchrist by Clarke.

"At this stage there is still too much to be learned and gained from Adam for that to be rushed," he said.

The former coach praised Clarke's attitude on and off the field, saying he always looked keen to learn and never hesitated in asking questions to seniors.

"He was just always trying to question leaders in the team, and trying to glean from them why they did what they did, and how they did it, at the end of a day's play, through training or over coffee...I see a mixture of Stephen Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne," he said.

Buchanan said though Clarke has a persona of his own, there were shades of many Australian greats in his personality.