Under-pressure Test champion Ricky Ponting will captain the Prime Minister's XI in their clash with the West Indies in January.

Ponting is Australia's leading runscorer in Test matches with 13,366 runs but his place in the current side is far from secure following three failures in the South Africa series.

The 37-year-old has been named in a 14-man squad for Australia's Test with the Proteas starting at the WACA on Friday.

By being named the PM's XI captain the former Test skipper joins the likes of Sir Donald Bradman, Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor and Richie Benaud.

"Its a big honour for me to be selected as captain of the Prime Ministers XI," Ponting said in a statement on Tuesday.

"It will be an exciting team of emerging cricketers and Im looking forward to leading them."

The match will be played on January 29 at Manuka Oval and for the first time it will be a day-night match.

The rest of the team will be announced in January after being picked by the National Selection Panel, with the help of Prime Minister Julia Gillard.