Injured Michael Clarke on course to play 1st Test against India, says Australian selector Rod Marsh

Michael Clarke

In some good news for Australian cricket fans, Cricket Australia (CA) chief selector Rod Marsh has said that Michael Clarke is well on his way to recovery and looks likely to feature in playing XI for the first Test against India at Brisbane, starting on December 4.

Earlier reports had suggested that the 33-year-old was unlikely to feature in the Tests versus India and Brad Haddin was set to take up the captaincy in his place. But the 67-year-old former Australian wicket-keeper has confirmed that Clarke’s latest hamstring injury wasn’t as serious as one thought it was.

He, however, has been ruled out of the ongoing 5-match One-Day International (ODI) series vs South Africa.

“He saw a guy this morning and I've never seen a happier doctor on our team,” Marsh said in a TV interview during the 2nd ODI in Perth on Sunday.

"He looked really happy with what's going to happen, so I'm backing Michael Clarke to play," he added.

Marsh added veteran wicket-keeper Brad Haddin was also recovering well from the shoulder injury that he suffered during the series vs Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which ruled him out of the ODI series vs the Proteas.