Australia’s vice-Captain, Michael Clarke not expected to compete in Brisbane due to injury
Australia’s vice-captain Michael Clarke of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823 is not expected to participate in the First Ashes Test at Brisbane this Thursday because of an injury to his back.The player has already skipped training on advice from his doctors as he recuperates.
While Clarke said on Twitter that he should recover in time for the match, Australia has called Pakistan-born batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 to play in his stead should Clarke prove unable to compete.
"Didn't train today, back a little stiff. Confident if I keep listening to our physio and doing the right things I will be fit," tweeted the 23-year-old Clarke.
Khawaja was omitted from the first Test at the Gabba after having been included in Australia’s 17-man team earlier in the year. He accepted to be put on-call in case he is needed for the upcoming Test.
According to BBC sport, Australia's chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch told reporters that, "Because there is some doubt over Michael Clarke's fitness for the Brisbane Test match, it was felt prudent to bring a standby player into the squad."
Hilditch affirmed that Usman was chosen because he has had strong domestic form, and because of panel expectations that he would perform well internationally. He reiterated that the national selection panel of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 considers him to be an ideal candidate
to replace Clarke should the latter be unable to get back on track in time for the game.
Hiltitch explained that the panel do intend to give http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 as much time as they can before replacing him, and concluded that, “…a decision on his availability will be made in consultation with the team's medical staff after the next two days of training."
Team Australia physiotherapist http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alex-Kountouris-c43123 told BBC sport it is difficult to predict whether or not Clarke will pull through. He called it bad timing, "If it had happened two weeks ago it wouldn't be a problem. In another week he'd be OK - it's whether
we've timed our run correctly.”
Kountouris said it was unexpected for the athlete’s back to 'flare up’ the way it did and suggested that the decision on whether or not to have him compete could wait until Thursday morning.
"I'm reasonably optimistic. But it will be after he bats tomorrow and recovers from that when we will really know how he is."
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