Michael Clarke and Australian selectors clash before first Test against India
Australian skipper Michael Clarke has ruled himself out of the second warm-up game against India, hours after being asked by the selectors to prove his match fitness in the tour game, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Clarke hopes to be fit for Brisbane Test
The report claims that the 33-year-old is eyeing a grade cricket match for Western Suburbs, that was recently in the news for a bizarre declaration, to prove his fitness before the first Test starting on December 4. It is understood that the right-hander met Australian team Physio Alex Kountouris on Monday, where Clarke claims to have learnt that he can only possibly play on Saturday for his grade team.
"My goal is to try and get myself fit to play whatever game's available. The next game on the table that I am available for, if I can be fit, is grade cricket on Saturday. So ideally if I can tick all the boxes along the way and play on Saturday, get through that. Hopefully, I can make myself available then it is completely up to the selectors to work out what to do.
"My focus is listening to the experts as I've always done. Over the last 10, 12 years I've been playing for Australia I don't think I've ever walked onto a field not being 100 per cent fit to perform. So I would hope with my experience that the selectors, my teammates, Cricket Australia staff respect my opinion there," Clarke said at a promotional appearance.
Cricket Australia contradict Clarke
However, later on Monday, Cricket Australia released a statement which, among other things, directly contradicted the skipper’s words.
"CA's position has not changed since our announcement of the Test squad. That is, Michael is to continue undergoing daily treatment for his injured hamstring as well as his ongoing back condition, with the aim of increasing his running over the coming days. He is the Australian captain and one of the best batsmen in the world. We obviously want to do all we can to ensure he recovers from his injury with the aim of getting him ready to play for Australia as soon as possible.
"Should he be in a position to really progress his running in the coming days, our desire is that he plays for the CA XI in the two-day tour match against India at the Adelaide Oval this Friday. Accordingly, a final decision on his fitness has not yet been determined and he has not yet been ruled out of the tour match by the CA medical team.
"Should Michael play the tour match and recover well, the selectors have said he will take his place in the Test side. If he is not able to get up for the CA XI game, and given his history with this recurring injury, he will be ruled out of any cricket this week and the First Test and our focus will shift to getting him fit to play the second Test in Adelaide commencing on Friday 12 December."
Interestingly, the tour game is scheduled for November 27 and 28 (Friday and Saturday), whereas Clarke’s grade game will resume on Saturday.