Michael Clarke may miss Australia’s Tests in UAE against Pakistan

Australia captain Michael Clarke is doubtful starter for October’s Test series against Pakistan. Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi / AP Photo

Australia captain Michael Clarke is doubtful for next month's Test series against Pakistan in the UAE after scans confirmed an injury to his left hamstring.

Clarke, 33, strained his hamstring in training before the one-day international (ODI) tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa in Harare following a long break from the game and missed the first two matches.

He returned to the team during Australia’s three-wicket loss to Zimbabwe but aggravated the injury and was ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

Clarke returned to Sydney on Tuesday and later had a scan.

“Michael Clarke had an MRI scan on returning from Zimbabwe that has confirmed a left hamstring muscle injury,” Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.

“He will have intensive rehabilitation for this injury and we will be monitoring his progress over the next week before deciding when he can return to training and playing.”

Australia will start their series against Pakistan with a Twenty20 International, a format Clarke does not play, on October 5 and will then play three ODIs and two Tests.

“Had a scan on the hamstring, some damage as expected but I will be back fitter and stronger,” Clarke said on his official Twitter handle.

“I have some great people helping me get my injury right. I will do whatever it takes to get back on the field with the boys.”

Clarke is not the only Australian looking to recuperate at present as fast bowler Ryan Harris is hoping to be fit in time for the domestic Sheffield Shield season in October as he continues his long recovery from knee surgery.

Harris, 34, who bowled Australia to a Test series victory over South Africa while struggling with knee problems, returned to the nets last week for the first time since going under the knife in March.

He has already been ruled out of action against Pakistan, but is targeting Queensland’s first Sheffield Shield match on October 31 to warm up for the home series against India.

“That’s my goal, to try and make sure I get enough bowling in before the India series, which I really want to play in,” Harris said.

“That’s me pushing it to the max and wanting to get back as soon as I can.”

The paceman has managed his troublesome right knee for much of his career among a litany of other injuries, but has still taken 104 wickets in 24 matches at an average of 22.56.

Australia are taking a cautious approach to his rehabilitation, with reports that Harris has been restricted to bowling 18 deliveries off three steps twice a week.

“It’s hard at times to do the programme when I want to do more,” Harris said.

“If I had any doubt about it I’d probably want to push a bit more, but there’s no doubt that the programmes they set me are spot on.”

Harris has previously likened his troublesome knee to a ticking time-bomb ready to cut his career short, but is still taking a long view, looking forward to a chance to defend the Ashes on English soil next year.

“I still want to be part of that team so that’s what keeps me going, and obviously wanting to defend the Ashes,” Harris said.

“That’s the goal and that’s what I want to get to.”

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Du Plessis a fixture at No 3 for South Africa

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Faf du Plessis has cemented his No 3 position in South Africa's one-day international (ODI) line-up with successive centuries against Australia but the batsman said he can get even better before next year's World Cup.

“I’m hitting the ball nicely, but I feel I can still improve quite a bit,” he said as ODI captain AB de Villiers confirmed Du Plessis was the successor to the recently retired Jacques Kallis in the key post.

“I’m enjoying the No 3 role, I think it suits me a lot better than it did at No 6.

“What is really important for me is to get big runs when you are in some sort of form. It [form] can change really quickly, I need to make sure I keep putting in big runs for the team,” Du Plessis said ahead of today’s ODI against Zimbabwe, the winner of which will play Australia in the final of the triangular tournament at the Harare Sports Club.

Du Plessis single-handedly kept South Africa in contention on Tuesday with a 126-run knock off 109 balls before the team finally succumbed to the Australians by 62 runs.

“I’ve said before that my job is to score hundreds,” he said.

“I ticked that box but getting a hundred and crossing your team over the line is much sweeter.”

He scored 106 in a record-breaking partnership with De Villiers against Australia in their first meeting in the triangular series last Wednesday.

Du Plessis has scored 401 runs at an average of 66 in six ODI’s on South Africa’s tour of Zimbabwe, which also included three ODI wins in a separate series with the hosts in Bulawayo last month.

“It’s definitely the toughest time of the innings to bat,” he said.

“In saying that, you need to make sure that when you get a partnership going you extend it as long as possible.”

South Africa would meet Australia again in Harare on Saturday in the tournament final as long as they do not lose heavily to Zimbabwe in the final pool match today.

- Reuters

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