Clarke set to be ruled out of first Test

Michael Clarke is set to be officially ruled out of the first Test.

Cricket Australia is expected to confirm on Wednesday that Clarke will not be ready for the opening chapter of the four-Test series against India, starting on Thursday week in Brisbane.

CA was set to confirm the news on Tuesday, prior to Phillip Hughes’ serious head injury.

Clarke, a close friend of Hughes, visited the comatose left-hander in hospital after the bouncer blow.

Chief selector Rod Marsh noted on Monday that if Clarke wasn’t running by Wednesday, “we can safely assume he won’t be playing the Test match”.

The hamstrung skipper was told he needed to play a two-day tour game against India in Adelaide starting on Friday to prove he was ready for five days of Test cricket.

That in itself was somewhat of a compromise, with this week’s Sheffield Shield clash rated a more suitable fitness test given Clarke has suffered three hamstring setbacks since August.

Clarke, having been named in a 12-man squad on Monday morning, seemingly confirmed that afternoon he would not play at Adelaide Oval.

“I’ve been pulled out of, or passed unfit to play the game in Adelaide. The medical team in the Australian cricket team have ruled me out of that game,” Clarke said.

But the 33-year-old was determined to play for club side Western Suburbs on Saturday, saying he could prove then that he’s ready for the Gabba.

“Hopefully I can make myself available, then it is completely up to the selectors to work out what to do,” he added.

Incredulous CA figures were shocked by Clarke’s words at a sponsor’s event in Sydney, releasing a statement that contradicted his words.

CA chief executive James Sutherland told Fairfax Media on Tuesday he would seek answers from Clarke as to why he and CA had such contrasting views on the state of play.

“I will speak to Michael and others who have been involved in the process to make sure I understand where these things have gone awry,” Sutherland said.

“I am concerned that there are some mixed messages coming out of Cricket Australia in the last 24 hours or so.

“I want to understand why things have fallen off the rails a bit there.”

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