SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Australia captain Michael Clarke batted with a broken shoulder on the recent tour of South Africa and has been advised to rest, ruling him out of the domestic first class final later this week, Cricket Australia said yesterday.
Clarke, who led his side to a 2-1 test series victory over South Africa, was struck on the left shoulder during the third test in Cape Town earlier this month yet still went on to make 161 not out in the tourists’ first innings.
“We have since done a series of scans that have demonstrated a fracture near his shoulder joint,” Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a statement.
“We expect that this will heal with a period of rest.”
Clarke’s New South Wales team will play Western Australia in the domestic Sheffield Shield final in Canberra from March 21-25.
