Australia legend Shane Warne has backed his Melbourne Stars team-mate Rob Quiney to successfully become a part of the Australia Test side, saying the batsman should be the front runner to replace Ricky Ponting.

Ponting played his final Test innings in Perth on Monday against South Africa, scoring eight runs before Robin Peterson ended a 17-year career. Warne now feels that Quiney, who made his debut against the Proteas in Brisbane but did not impress, should be given another shot ahead of the likes of Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja.

Warne said at the Big Bash League's launch: "When you identify a player who's been the best player in domestic cricket for a period of time and you give him a chance... [with him] getting nought you can't really tell [his suitability] because anyone can get nought.

"The ones that get 12 and 15 are the ones you worry about. They get themselves in then play a bad shot to get out. For me, anyone can get out early, when they first come in.

"I don't think he's had a really good run at it. I think three Tests against Sri Lanka would be a good opportunity to have a really good run at it, and then see how he goes after those three Tests. If you need to make a change after that so be it."

Warne cautioned the selectors against finding a short-term solution, saying that Quiney could be an option not only against Sri Lanka later this month but also in the long run for the Ashes, and beyond.

The spin legend added: "You've got to start looking ahead and say 'These guys we bring in, who's going to play well in India? Who's going to play well in England against the swinging and seaming ball?' and Bobby Quiney has got the best technique out of any of the candidates, bar none.

"Other guys like Khawaja and Phillip Hughes have to earn their stripes a bit more. They have to go back to Shield cricket and show us how keen they are. Go back and make a hundred and keep making hundreds.

"Khawaja has had a couple of chances. Phil Hughes has had three or four, he's meant to have changed his technique a bit and seems to be getting runs, but Bobby has had one chance really."