Khawaja called up as Clarke in doubt

da betsul： Michael Clarke remains in doubt for Thursday’s first Ashes Test after failing to bat at the side’s opening training session in Brisbane on Monday

Peter English22-Nov-2010

Michael Clarke is confident of overcoming a long-standing back injury toplay in Thursday’s opening Ashes Test, but Australia have called in UsmanKhawaja as cover. Clarke did nothing more than walk some laps at thesquad’s opening training session on Monday and he must bat at training onTuesday to hold his spot.His injury, and the call-up of Khawaja, provides the hosts with thepotential for more disruptions before such a crucial occasion. “I’m stilla little bit stiff and sore, hence me not training today,” Clarke said.”Our plan was for me to have a bat tomorrow and then another good hit onWednesday. The battle is to get as close to a hundred per cent as possiblefor Thursday. I’m pretty confident that I’ll be right.”Ricky Ponting said it would be hard for Clarke to prove his fitness withoutbatting but at the same time he wants to give his vice-captain as long aspossible to get right. Clarke is one of the few local batsmen who is inform this summer and his record in Ashes Tests is excellent. He averages 55 in 15 games against England and Australia aredesperate for him to provide stability in an order that has faltered.”He’s been in this situation a few times the last couple of years,” said Ponting. “He’s had niggles but been able to come back most times. Alex [Kountouris, the team physio] has made it clear he wants him to bat tomorrow [Tuesday] and Wednesday. If he doesn’t bat tomorrow it’d be hard for him to be considered for the game, but we will definitely give him as long as possible.””I’ve played 64 Test matches with it now, I haven’t missed a Test, touchwood,” Clarke said. “It’s not so much batting, it’s more waking up daily.Some days are better than others. I get that feeling when you get out ofbed.”At training he crouched down gingerly to pick up a bat and Kountouris said a decision couldn’t be made until afterhe went into the nets. “Until he bats tomorrow we can’t be absolute 100%sure that he’s right to go,” Kountouris said.The back disc injury, which has bothered Clarke regularly throughout hiscareer, resurfaced during his century for New South Wales. He batted againin the second innings, scoring an unbeaten 39 to save the game, but hasn’tbeen able to do anything at full intensity since.He said once he starts an innings the adrenaline covered up the pain.”It’s more just discomfort in general than at a certain time,” he said.Clarke was last floored by the problem in 2009, when it kept him out of aone-day series against India, and it also affected him during his firstAshes tour. “I remember in 2005 it happened the first ball fielding at OldTrafford,” he said. “I didn’t field for the rest of the Test but I battedin the two innings. I’ve played international cricket with discomfortbecause of my back, but it hasn’t ruled me out of a Test match as of yet.”The extra significance of the Ashes has contributed to Clarke’s cautiousapproach. “No doubt it being a big series, I guess that’s probably whywe’re taking it a little bit slower and why I didn’t have a bat today,” hesaid. “It’s a five-Test series as well so there’s a lot of cricket aheadof us. We’re just trying to do everything possible to make sure I’m fitfor Thursday and then available for the whole series.”Steven Smith, the legspinning allrounder, is in the squad but theselectors have looked to Khawaja as specialist batting cover. Khawaja, who will link up with the squad in Brisbane on Monday evening, travelled to England for the Pakistan series in July and was astrong contender to make the slimmed-down version of the squad until hisdouble failure in Australia A’s match against England in Hobart last week.If he plays he will be the first Muslim cricketer to have representedAustralia.”As there is some doubt over Michael Clarke’s fitness for the Brisbane Test match, it was felt prudent to bring a standby player into the squad,” said Andrew Hilditch, Australia’s chairman of selectors. “Usman has been added as a result of his strong recent domestic form and the National Selection Panel’s belief that should the opportunity arise he has the ability to perform well at the international level.”We intend to give Michael as much time as possible to prove his fitness and a decision on his availability will be made in consultation with the team’s medical staff after the next two days of training.”