Clarke not certain for test series against New Zealand

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: March 10, 2010

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Melbourne: Australian vice-captain, Michael Clarke, who returned home from New Zealand before the third one-day international, citing “personal reasons”, has been included in the 14-member squad for the first test of the two-match series but Cricket Australia is still not certain of his participation in the first game.

Clarke left the current one-day trip and returned to Sydney on Tuesday due to “personal issues” involving his fiancée Lara Bingle, who is at the centre of a nude photo scandal. Clarke has been given leave but Michael Brown, Cricket Australia’s deputy, is unsure when the vice-captain will be back.

“I’ve talked to him over the last few days and we have a Test tour looming,” Brown said at the SCG. “I would hope he’s part of that group. But unless he’s ready to go, there’s no point going. We’ll talk again over the next couple of days and our intention hopefully is to get him back in the side for the Test match.”

The opening game begins in Wellington on March 19 and the Australian team is expecting that Clarke will be with the squad by then.

All-rounder Ryan Harris, who has recovered from an injury also returned to the Test squad, which also featured left-hand opening batsman Phillip Hughes, a Cricket Australia release said.

Meanwhile, young leg-spinner, Steven Smith, got the reward for his impressive performance in the Australian domestic circuit, as the 20-year-old was also included in the squad.

“The core of the squad is the Australian Test team that performed so well during the Australian summer in defeating West Indies and Pakistan,” Hilditch said.

“Ryan Harris, having overcome injuries at the start of the season, has played really well for Australia in the shorter formats of the game. The NSP are confident that if Ryan gets an opportunity he has the ability to have an impact for Australia in what will be a very hard Test series against New Zealand. Phillip Hughes has also been in excellent form at state level and richly deserves his selection on the back of another fantastic season in the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield,” Hilditch said.

“Steven Smith has had an excellent Shield season, including a big century against Tasmania recently, and of course has already demonstrated his ability to cope with the pressure of international cricket. He adds great flexibility to the squad with his exciting stroke-play, leg-spin bowling and gifted fielding,” the chief selector added.

Wellington will host the first Test and the second one will be held at Hamilton from March 27.

Squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Clint McKay, Marcus North, Steven Smith, Shane Watson.

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