Michael Clarke has a message for Ricky Ponting – my phone number hasn’t changed.

The Australian skipper says if Ponting wishes to personally explain criticisms he’s made of his former deputy in his new autobiography, At The Close of Play, he can pick up the phone.

Ponting has said he intends to talk to Clarke about matters covered in the book, namely a less than glowing appraisal of his attitude under him as vice-captain.

“Ricky said that did he? Well, Ricky has my number,” said Clarke at a press conference on Tuesday.

“We’ve spoken for the last 15 years so I don’t think anything will change, but as I said I am very focused on what’s in front of me and making sure I am as well prepared as I can be for this first Sheffield Shield game and obviously a huge summer ahead.

“I have said what I have to say on that issue.”

Clarke said at a sponsor’s function last week that former Test captain Ponting could “have approached me personally” about the concerns he’s now raised in his book.

But Ponting is standing by what he’s written and insists nothing in the book should come as a surprise to Clarke.

In his book, Ponting raises concerns he had about Clarke’s former relationship with model Lara Bingle and the distractions it caused for the team, and about Clarke’s failure to fully support him when he was captain.

However, he also describes Clarke as Australia’s best player and someone who has grown into the leadership role nicely since himself taking over as skipper.

Clarke (back) is aiming to return to the field on Wednesday for NSW in their Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania at Blacktown.