Australia sweating on Clarke's fitness
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Michael Clarke should recover from a virus in time to take on India (file photo). (AFP: Timothy A Clary)
Australia has suffered a setback ahead of tomorrow's first Test against India with vice-captain Michael Clarke missing training yesterday because of a stomach virus.
Team officials said Clarke, 27, should recover in time for the Test, but his absence from practice is not what the tourists needed before the four-match series.
All-rounder Shane Watson was forced to sit out of the tour opener in Hyderabad last week with a chest infection, missing valuable match practice.
Australia needs a fit Clarke, both as an accomplished middle-order batsman and left-arm slow bowler, in the absence of better spin options.
Clarke said last week he was looking to make a positive impact in the Bangalore Test, just as he had done on the previous tour four years ago.
"I have had success before in Bangalore and hopefully I can repeat that this time too," Clarke said in Hyderabad.
It was at the same Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore in 2004 that Clarke made a memorable Test debut aged 23, scoring 151 to lead Australia to a 217-run win.
Wicket-keeper Brad Haddin has been cleared to play despite hurting his finger on the final day of the tour match.
Team-mate Stuart Clark said Haddin feared the worst because he had broken the same finger against the West Indies earlier this year.
"He's fine. He copped one on the finger and he was very worried, thinking the same thing's happening like happened in the West Indies," he said.
"But after some checks by the doctor and the physio and whoever else, it all seems to be pretty clear and he'll be right to go."
-AFP/ABC
