CLARKE RETURNS AS FRIENDLY PRACTICE MATCHES BEGIN

Australia skipper Michael Clarke made a successful return from injury in Brisbane today, but the news was not as good for Bangladesh which failed to topple a Cricket Australia XI.

Clarke, who is in a race against time to return from hamstring surgery to head up Australia’s ICC Cricket World Cup campaign, scored 34 runs off 36 balls in the warm-up match at Allan Border Field while also bowling two overs and taking a great grab in slips.

Batting first, Bangladesh was in trouble early after losing star Shakib Al Hasan, who was caught by Clarke in slips.

It fell to 5-57 before a partnership between Mohammad Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman helped them post a decent total of 193.

The CA XI chased the total with eight overs in hand for the loss of six wickets.

The leg-spin of Rahman ended Clarke’s innings, while Al-Amin Hossain, Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar also picked up wickets.

Good to see Clarke returning to fitness. It has been quite an ongoing for him with his back/hamstring issues. Australia has an interesting predicament, who will captain Australia out of form Bailey (who has a very good record in ODIs) the in form Smith or the returning Clarke?

Pup is determined to have a WC win as Cappo on his CV !! 

Heard on the news today that Michael Clarke may just be fit to play the first WC match - AUS v ENG, even though he has until Feb 21st to return fit depending on what the medical staff say.  Good news for AUS !!  Click here>>>