Michael Clarke’s comeback from hamstring surgery is ahead of schedule and he will captain Australia at the World Cup, says coach Darren Lehmann.

Already “sick” of speculation surrounding the Australian captaincy, Lehmann on Wednesday gave Clarke his firm backing ahead of the next stage in his return to action on Thursday in Brisbane.

Clarke is to play for a Cricket Australia XI against Bangladesh in a one-day practice match at Allan Border Field, but his duties will be restricted to batting and light fielding.

He appeared to move freely in fielding drills and in the nets on Wednesday morning as he met his Cricket Australia XI teammates, who are mostly youngsters and fringe Sheffield Shield players, for the first time.

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