Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch admitted the decision to make Clarke leader of the twenty20 side could not please Gilchrist but claimed the star stumper-batsman realised it was necessary to plan for the future.

"It is a matter we discussed at length. We recognise it is a great honour to represent your country," Hilditch was quoted as saying by The Age.

"Adam is of the view he would like to be captaining his country but is pleased with the initiative. It is important we have forward planning," he said.

Hilditch said anointing Clarke was part of Cricket Australia's long-term plans, especially for the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup.

"It is a long-term initiative, to make sure we have strong leadership whenever Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and, for that matter, Michael Hussey are no longer with Australian cricket," he said.

"He (Clarke) certainly has all the credentials. This is seen as an ideal opportunity in a new form of the game for him to express his individuality and learn how to lead the side," Hilditch said.

Meanwhile, though he has been tipped as a captaincy material for quite a while, Clarke said he was ‘shocked’ when Hilditch asked him to lead the twenty20 side.