London, August 7: Ashes tour vice-captain Adam Gilchrist will skipper Australia in place of the injured Steve Waugh, the team announced Tuesday.

Waugh tore a calf muscle in the third Test at Trent Bridge before the world champions romped to a seven-wicket victory to go 3-0 up in the series and retain the Ashes.

Batsman Gilchrist, who is also Australia's wicket-keeper, will be in charge for the fourth Test at Headingley which starts a week on Thursday.

Gilchrist has experience of leading his country having guided Australia to a five-wicket victory over West Indies in Adelaide last December.

"I am thrilled to be given the opportunity again, although its come in disappointing circumstances because we have lost a quality leader and player in Steve Waugh," said Gilchrist who has punished England with scores of 152, 90 and 54 in the series so far.

"The series might be won, but Steve's absence will give us a greater challenge to continue our winning ways without him, something we will be striving to achieve."

Should Waugh fail to recover from his injury, Gilchrist will captain the side for the fifth and final Test at the Oval.

Ricky Ponting will take over the vice-captaincy role, a role he has fulfilled in the past.