SHANE Warne says some of Ricky Ponting's captaincy is "all over the place" and Friday's second Test in Adelaide is the greatest leadership challenge of his career.

Warne, who was critical of Ponting's field placings during October's tour of India, launched another thinly veiled attack on the Test skipper when he said Ponting was not patient enough in the first Test and changed his plans far too quickly. "Everything Ricky tried did not work but some of the stuff he attempted was all over the place, rather than sticking to a plan for long enough," Warne wrote in his column for Britain's Daily Telegraph. "Australia would be halfway through an over or two and he would change plans again. "I can understand that to a certain extent. You are desperate to get a wicket and explore every avenue. "But at times captaincy is about biding your time and sticking to your plans over a long period. He has also got to show some patience." Nothing that Ponting tried in Brisbane seemed to work, but he was quick to point out that bowlers from both teams struggled for penetration on probably the flattest pitch ever for a Gabba Test. Warne said Ponting faced a big test of his leadership as he tried to rouse his troops. "This is the biggest test of Ricky Ponting's leadership of men," he said. "It is fine to dissect the tactical side of his captaincy but this is now about something different. "It is about picking up his players after a hammering in the field. "It is a hard one for any captain, but he has to stand up and be counted and try to inspire his team. "Both bowling attacks are a concern, but England will clearly take more out of this match than Australia. "The only bowler to take a second innings wicket for Australia was a part-timer (Marcus North). Horrible." Warne has huge concerns over Mitchell Johnson. He described Johnson's pace as "pedestrian" and said he appeared worried about the technical elements of his bowling, rather than just charging in and taking wickets. And Warne said new spinner Xavier Doherty was an "honest toiler" who needed to slow his pace in Adelaide where he could play a key role. "It would be a harsh judge who said after one Test match that Doherty has not got it," Warne said. "That would be very unfair. "You need two or three Tests in different conditions before you can make a judgment. "We have seen enough to know he can spin the ball and can play a role. "If he plays at Adelaide, then he needs to work on how to mix up an over. "At the moment he bowls three or four faster ones. It needs to be the other way round."

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