Clarke starts with the winning series

Australia captain Michael Clarke speaks good about the man he replaced, Ricky Ponting, to be a positive influence after securing a 3-0 win over Bangladesh in his first series in charge.

Ponting, who stepped down as skipper after the recent World Cup quarter-final exit, opened the innings with Watson in the absence of Brad Haddin and only missed out on a half-century by three runs.

Michael Hussey’s 108 and another fine all-round display from Shane Watson (72 runs and two wickets) saw the tourists prevail by 66 runs in a high-scoring series finale in Mirpur on Wednesday.

Clarke singled out Watson – who won the man of the series award – for special praise and hoped his run of good form continued.