Aussies sweat over Clarke for Zimbabwe opener

FE Team | Published: August 25, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

HARARE, Aug 24 (AFP): Australia will make a late decision on captain Michael Clarke's fitness for Monday's triangular series opener against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club.
Clarke tweaked his left hamstring during Australia's first training session Friday, but jogged several laps Saturday to lend hope that he may recover in time.
However with a higher-profile game against South Africa to follow Wednesday, it is possible that Clarke will be left out of the Zimbabwe clash as a precaution, in which case George Bailey would lead Australia.
"He's better than he was Friday, so he's probably 50-50," coach Darren Lehmann said after training Saturday.
"He's desperate to play and we're obviously desperate for our captain to play, so hopefully he'll get through Sunday's session and we'll make a decision from there.
"We've got enough depth in our squad to chop and change if we need to, so we'll just put the best side we possibly can out to win the game."
Should Clarke be left out Monday, then top-order batsman Phillip Hughes could take his place after coming into the squad following an injury to Shane Watson.
Although Lehmann was yet to identify his preferred bowling attack for the game, he confirmed that it would be led by left-arm fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc.