Clarke may return for Aussies’ first game
MICHAEL CLARKE will be fit to captain Australia in the World Cup, says coach Darren Lehmann.
‘‘Sick’’ of speculation surrounding the captaincy, Lehmann gave Clarke’s race to recover from hamstring surgery its firmest backing yet as the skipper prepared for the next stage in his return to action.
Clarke is to play for a Cricket Australia XI against Bangladesh in a one-day practice match at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field today, although his duties will be restricted to batting and light fielding.
He appeared to move freely in fielding drills and in the nets yesterday morning as he met his Cricket Australia XI team-mates, mostly youngsters and fringe Sheffield Shield players.
Clarke, 33, has had to contend with recent speculation about a preference for Steve Smith as skipper while also battling to meet the February 21 deadline set to prove his World Cup fitness.
With stand-in one-day skipper George Bailey out of form with the bat in the tri-series, it has cast an unwelcome air of doubt around the World Cup campaign.
But Lehmann said it should end.
‘‘I don’t know why we’re worried about leaders too much,’’ Lehmann said.
‘‘At the end of the day, we know he [Clarke] is going to be right to go. We’re really confident in that, and he’s confident – that’s more important. We need him playing and playing well and leading well.
‘‘He’s ahead of schedule – he plays tomorrow, he gets through that no dramas, another box ticked and away we go.’’
Clarke has been given until Australia’s second World Cup pool match against Bangladesh to prove his fitness or be ruled out of the World Cup.
But Lehmann appeared to hint yesterday he could even make a surprise return in Australia’s first match – against England in Melbourne on February 14.
‘‘When he gets back, we’ve got to make sure he’s right to go.
‘‘He knows that, he’s diligent, he’s good to go and really confident he’ll be right to lead us hopefully before Bangladesh, but definitely by Bangladesh.’’
Lehmann shrugged off any suggestions of a rift between Clarke, his team-mates, the selectors and Cricket Australia administrators.
‘‘We know where we’re at as a squad. We’re in a good space.’’
Clarke made the first step in his comeback on Saturday in Sydney grade cricket, batting for almost three hours on his way to a score of 51. Assuming he was declared fit, his spot in the team would not necessarily come at the expense of vice-captain Bailey, Lehmann said.
Bailey has made 21 runs from his past four one-day international innings and it has been anticipated Clarke will come in as a direct swap.
‘‘We’re a squad and one thing I do know of World Cups, you need a squad to win it,’’ Lehmann said.