Australia hopeful captain Michael Clarke will be fit to face India
Tuesday 18 November 2014 07:47, UK
Australia are hopeful captain Michael Clarke will overcome a hamstring injury to lead the team in their series against India which begins next month.
The Aussies stage four Tests against India before co-hosting the 50-over World Cup with New Zealand.
Vice-captain Shane Watson, who stood in for the injured Clarke for one Test against India last year, expects his skipper to be fit to face the tourists at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 4.
"The diagnosis is, I think, better than what it was initially, which is a great thing. It's all very positive," said Watson.
"Everyone's got their fingers crossed. Hopefully, over the next week or so, it'll continue to improve really well and he'll be right for the first Test."
All-rounder Watson is on the comeback trail himself in the one-day series against South Africa having missed half a year of international cricket because of injury,
Watson said his focus was on proving himself worthy of a recall to the Test side and added: "I just need to be scoring runs over the next couple of weeks to give myself the best opportunity to be able to do that."
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He has featured in the two one-dayers against South Africa so far with the series tied at 1-1 with three to play.
No rift
Meanwhile, South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has played down a rift with Clarke.
The row started in March when Clarke sledged as Steyn and team-mate Vernon Philander were batting to try, ultimately unsuccessfully, to save both the Cape Town Test and the series.
Steyn initially refused Clarke's apology but the South African said in Sydney: "The issue with Michael Clarke got blown out completely, it was like two schoolgirls the way the media got hold of it. He's not playing now. He's obviously injured. Hopefully he gets well.
Everyone's got their fingers crossed. Hopefully, over the next week or so, it'll continue to improve really well and he'll be right for the first Test.
"He's a great player and I think there's enough respect from both of us, we've played against each other for long enough now and it's just kind of got blown out of the water. It's a bit silly really in all honesty."
On the domestic scene, Australia Test opener Chris Rogers produced a timely reminder to his critics that he would be available to face India after scoring a century for Victoria against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval in the Sheffield Shield.
Rogers struggled in the previous series against Pakistan, managing just 88 runs in four innings, in the 2-0 victory in the United Arab Emirates.
But, in his first innings since his return to Australia, the left-hander crafted 107 in a 210-ball knock for his state before he was caught by Phil Hughes off the bowling of Joe Mennie.
Hughes has been tipped to replace Rogers in the Australia side but he made only seven on the opening morning of the match.
Watch the remainder of the Australia v South Africa ODI series on Sky Sports 2HD starting at 03.15 on Wednesday
