Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Iran following deadly Bandar Abbas port explosion    Saudi Arabia welcomes Palestinian leadership reforms, appointment of Hussein Al-Sheikh    Ministry of Hajj issued over 150,000 Nusuk cards for the Hajj of 2025    Saudi Arabia deports 12,866 illegal residents in a week    Pope Francis laid to rest at historic funeral in Rome    Massive explosion at Iran's Shahid Rajaee Port injures over 500 people    SFDA clears first 44-ton medical shipment for Hajj pilgrims    Over 13 million worshipers pray at Rawdah Sharif in a year    Saudi orchestra to perform at Sydney Opera House in May    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Clarke to miss Boxing Day Test if fitness doubts remain
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 24 - 12 - 2012

MELBOURNE — Australia will not risk playing captain Michael Clarke in next week's second Test against Sri Lanka if he is not fully fit, chairman of selectors John Inverarity said Sunday.
Clarke is doubtful for the Melbourne Test starting Wednesday after a hamstring problem forced him to retire hurt while batting on the fourth day of Australia's 137-run win in the opening match of the series in Hobart.
The 31-year-old batsman, who is the leading scorer in Tests in 2012 with 1,489 runs, has repeatedly said he was confident of returning to fitness in time for the second Test at the MCG, but Inverarity was not sure it was worth taking the risk.
“He's a very precious asset and I would go low risk,” Inverarity told reporters after watching Sunday's training session at the MCG, in which Clarke underwent light duties.
“He's always upbeat, he desperately wants to play. But we certainly don't want to push him especially hard in a Test and for him to break down.”
If Clarke fails to prove his fitness over the next couple of days, his place in the batting order could go to Usman Khawaja, while all-rounder Shane Watson will take over as captain.
Watson said he could fully understand why Clarke was so keen to lead Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
“It's just about as big as it gets for an Australian cricketer,” Watson said. “... It's an amazing opportunity to think that something like that has come along in your life.
“But I'm trying not to get too far in front of myself at the moment. I know Michael will be doing everything he can to get right for this Test match.”
Australia has been forced to reshuffle its pace attack due to injuries and fatigue in recent matches and is set for another line-up change with Ben Hilfenhaus ruled out of the second Test.
Left-armers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnston, and the uncapped Jackson Bird are vying to join Peter Siddle in a three-pronged pace attack at the MCG, with selectors likely to retain off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Inverarity confirmed that the selectors would continue with their rotation policy to preserve the fitness of the remaining bowlers and Starc was next in line.
“It's about bowling loads,” he said. “The science behind it is that they've got to build up their bowling loads so the oscillations are not very significant.
“If they do become reasonably significant, as they have done for Mitchell (Starc), then you enter a danger period, a high-risk period.” — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.