Ricky Ponting has lauded Steve Smith for his ambition while disagreeing with the current Australian cricket captain over where he should bat.
The former skipper is bullish about the state of Australian cricket, saying the Ashes series loss earlier this year was a rare blemish for the national team.
He expects the home side to have straightforward Test series wins this summer over New Zealand and the West Indies.
Michael Clarke's retirement means Smith is now the permanent captain and Ponting likes what he sees.
"He's an exceptionally driven young bloke," Ponting said.
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"He wants to be the greatest player of all time and that's a great thing to have.
"He wants to be the greatest player that Australia's had and that's fantastic.
"He'll have a great relationship with the coach, he'll have a great relationship with the selectors, because that's just the sort of kid that he is, and he'll make sure everyone in that dressing room is treated the same way."
But Ponting is nonplussed that Smith could bat at No.4, not No.3.
"It just seems obvious to me that he'll bat at four," Ponting said.
"I've always said, the best player should bat at No.3 and I think he's clearly our best player right now."
Ponting predicts uncapped opening batsman Cameron Bancroft will play in the first Test and also thinks the selectors will recall Usman Khawaja to bat at No.3.
He said there was a tough call to be made on the fast bowlers, given Peter Siddle bowled so well in the last Ashes Test.
But, overall, Ponting said Australian cricket is in good shape.
"I have no concerns at all with Australian cricket," he said.
"Yes, we lost the Ashes ... if I was them, I would have been most disappointed with their first Test performance.
"If you look at what we've done for the last couple of years, everyone we've come up against, we've won well whether that's home or away.
"We'll beat NZ and we'll beat the West Indies comfortably, that's the way I see the summer going."
Ponting was honoured on Wednesday night when he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame.
"It feels more real now. I must admit, I've thought about it a bit in the last week, but I've known about it for a long time," he said.
"It's not until you get here and you start rubbing shoulders with some of these people, you start realising what group you've become a part of.
"It's quite remarkable, but it makes it more special when you hear the stories of others and you know you're a part of that group."
Ponting said now he had retired, he had more time to reflect on his career.
"When you're playing, you play a game, you analyse that and move on for the next one - you never reflect on anything that happens in your life," he said.
