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Michael Clarke

SYDNEY: Michael Clarke will today need to prove he is over a thumb injury if he is to play in tomorrow’s opening one-day match against South Africa at the MCG.

Clarke missed both Twenty20 matches with the complaint, with New South Wales rookie David Warner filling his spot in the side.

Warner is on standby for Clarke and will make his one-day debut should the Test vice-captain fail to come through. Australian fast bowler Nathan Bracken says he hopes Clarke can return to the side.

“Hopefully he comes up well, and obviously it’s always a concern when you’ve got an injury worry,” he said.

Michael Clarke

SYDNEY: Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke has urged administrators to decrease player workloads to defend their family life.

Clarke authorized skipper Ricky Ponting’s claim that cricketers’ schedules were too full, an subject that will control discussions for the new memo of considerate between players and Cricket Australia.

“I think the main issue with the players at the instant is that because of the amount of cricket that is going on, and that includes all forms of the game, Twenty20, Test cricket one-day cricket, all the dissimilar competitions, I think guys careers are not going to last as long as they used to,” Clarke said.

Clarke said it was unlikely players would go around profitable domestic Twenty20 tournaments, such as the Indian Premier League, to spend more time with their families.

Michael Clarke

A cocktail party was the unlikely place Andrew Symonds strengthened his strained friendship with Australian team-mate Michael Clarke.
 
Symonds had admitted he drank too much before being sensationally sent home from a one-day series in Darwin in September by a leadership group featuring Clarke for the infamous “gone fishing” controversy.
 
The all-rounder said earlier this week that his once great friendship with Clarke was “not what it was” after hitting rock bottom at the Top End.
 
But Clarke today said their relationship was as healthy as ever after bonding with Symonds at a promotional party at Brisbane on Monday night.
 
“We had a cocktail party last night which was great. We spent a bit of time together having a chat and at training today we did again,” Clarke said, referring to Monday night’s All-Star Party at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art.
 
“It’s probably been exactly how it was before he left which has been great for both of us.
 
“It is good to have him back.”
 
Despite their history, Clarke said there no awkward moments when they were reunited in the Australian camp in the lead-up to the first Test against New Zealand at Brisbane starting on Thursday.
 
“At the time when the decision was made from the leadership group … I definitely didn’t want it to affect our friendship,” Clarke said.
 
“It certainly wasn’t a personal decision. It didn’t affect my feelings about Symmo. It was just what we thought was in the best interests of the team and Andrew.”
 
History shows Symonds successfully overcame alcohol issues to fight his way back into the Australian squad and Clarke’s admiration was obvious on Tuesday.
 
“One thing Symmo has done has looked at himself in the mirror and worked out for himself what he needed to do to get back into this team,” Clarke said.
 
“That was a big priority for the leadership group and the team. It’s great to see him do that.
 
“Whatever issues Andrew has had, he’s spent time trying to get help or fix those issues.
 
“It seems like he is in a great place at the moment.”
 
Clarke said he had fully recovered from a virus contracted in India, as had speedster Brett Lee.
 
The Australians were relegated to the indoor nets at the Gabba today as showers continued.
 
Injury-plagued all-rounder Shane Watson – expected to be vying with Symonds and spinner Jason Krejza for a first Test nod – sent a scare through the camp during training on Tuesday.
 
He left the nets in distress after being hit in the chest by quick Mitchell Johnson while batting but he quickly returned.