Australia had one of their many injury worries prior to next week’s first Test against the West Indies eased yesterday.
The day after fast bowler Brett Lee’s Test career was thrown into doubt by a recurrence of an elbow injury, vice-captain Michael Clarke showed no effects of a back complaint that had sidelined him for two months in compiling an unbeaten 92 for New South Wales against Tasmania in his comeback match in Sydney.
Clarke’s injury kept him out of the Champions Trophy in South Africa in September and Australia’s ODI series in India last month.
He and Usman Khawaja (51 not out) advanced New South Wales to 290 for three by close with a fourth-wicket stand of 122.
In the same match, Clarke’s team mate, 20-year-old Phillip Hughes’ chances of regaining the opening spot he lost to Shane Watson in the Ashes series in England was setback when he was bowled by Luke Butterworth for 12. (TC).