adminSYDNEY. — Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke retains a chance of playing in next week’s first Test against India but must prove his fitness with a positive training session, coach Darren Lehmann said yesterday.
Clarke has struggled with a third hamstring injury in three months, with his latest rehabilitation disrupted by the tragic death of team mate Phillip Hughes.
Lehmann said Clarke would join the squad in Adelaide later yesterday, and would be back in training the following day.
“As long as he’s fine to do the running and can bat (he’ll play),” Lehmann told reporters in Adelaide.
“We’ll get him batting tomorrow and see how he goes. It’ll be case of if he’s fine, he’ll play. We’ll just have to wait and see.
“We’ll be guided by medical staff, the captain himself, selectors. We’ll get together and assess what the plan is tomorrow.”
Following Hughes’ funeral in his home-town of Macksville, New South Wales on Wednesday, 33-year-old Clarke stayed with the family for a private cremation on Thursday. — Reuters.
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