Will Clarke really play in Tests against New Zealand?

Question

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke left the squad in the middle of its current ODI series in New Zealand to address personal matters back home, but he’s been named in the Test squad. Will Clarke actually play?

Answer 1

His name looks like it’s pencilled in for the Test series rather than printed in black ink. Apparently all Cricket Australia’s general manager of cricket Michael Brown could offer the media at the SCG when the squad was announced was that he was “hopeful” Clarke would return to New Zealand for the Test series.

"I've talked to [Clarke] over the last few days and I talked to him last night and we obviously have a Test tour looming with the team departing Sunday and Monday," Brown said.

"I would be hoping that he's part of that group but as Ricky and I both discussed this morning, unless he's ready to go, there's no point him going.”