If Clarke does not recover in time for Australia’s opening ODI against Zimbabwe, on Monday, the current vice-captain George Bailey will deputize for the 33-year old.
“We will monitor his condition closely over the next 24 hours to see how he responds to further treatment before making a decision on his management,” team physiotherapist David Beakley said.
Australia are unlikely to take any risk with Clarke’s fitness, with a hectic period of cricket coming up over the course of the next 12 months. Australia will be touring the UAE for an ODI and Test series against Pakistan in October-November. Soon after, there is India’s tour of Australia for a 4-match Test series in December followed by the 50-over World Cup on home soil, which will take place in February-March, not to forget the all-important defense of the Ashes, in England, in July-August next year.
Clarke’s injury might mean a comeback for Phillip Hughes, who was included in the squad as a replacement for the injured Shane Watson, into the Australian ODI side. Hughes last played ODI cricket for Australia during the one-day series in India last year, but he was dropped, subsequently, for the ODIs in their home summer against England. Since then Hughes has been scoring a truckload of runs for Australia A in both 4-day and List A cricket, and he deserves another crack at forging a successful international career with Australia.
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