Clarke likely to sit out at MCG against Lanka

Australia captain Michael Clarke is set to miss out the final group game on Friday against Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank tri-series ODI cricket tournament, the national selectors said on Wednesday. For a change, India pray for an Oz win

Australia captain Michael Clarke is set to miss out the final group game Friday against Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank tri-series ODI cricket tournament, the national selectors said on Wednesday.

All-rounder Shane Watson, who himself had just come back after recovering from injury, captained the side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Clarke, who was forced out of the team with back and hamstring injuries, has been named in the squad against Sri Lanka and the best-of-three finals but chairman of selectors John Inverarity is not sure Clarke will be available for Friday's game.

Australian-Captain-Michael-Clarke-left-congratulates-Peter-Forrest-after-he-reached-50-runs-in-the-one-day-international-cricket-match-in-Hobart-AP-Chris-Crerar

“One of the uncertainties at the moment is still Michael Clarke's fitness. We think he's going to be okay for Friday, but we're certainly going to have a low-risk strategy,” he said.

“If he's 'just about right', I don't think we'll play him. But I think he'll be okay.”