Michael Clarke cleared to play warm-up

Australian captain Michael Clarke has confirmed he’ll play in the four-day game against Pakistan A starting on Wednesday.

Clarke had suggested on Tuesday he had a long way to go to be fit for the first Test against Pakistan in Dubai on October 22.

But moments before his official pre-match media conference, the skipper spoke with team physio Alex Kountouris who gave Clarke the all-clear following his recent efforts to overcome a hamstring injury the 33-year-old suffered on August 31.

“I spoke to Alex 10 seconds before I came in here,” Clarke told reporters.

“He wants to assess me after every session I do. He’s fine for me to play the tour game.

“I feel a lot better now than I did certainly after Zimbabwe when I tore my hamstring.

“I’ll be playing tomorrow in the four-day practice match.

“If the ball’s there to chase to the boundary I’ll be sprinting after it.”

Having arrived in Dubai a few days before other members of the Test squad in a bid to ease through a gradual build-up to match fitness, Clarke has performed strongly in batting sessions and running drills at training.

Pace-bowling allrounder Mitchell Marsh will also play in the tour match despite injuring his hamstring on September 30.

“Mitch definitely won’t bowl in the first innings and hopefully he can bowl in the second innings,” Clarke said.

“His progress is slow and steady but he was bowling in the nets today so that’s a really positive sign for us.

“As long as he’s fit to bowl, I don’t think he needs to bowl 10 or 15 overs to prove he’s fit enough to do that.”

Marsh’s ability to bat and bowl in the tour-game would see him firm for a possible Test debut in Dubai.

However David Warner’s groin strain, which caused him to limp off the field during Sunday’s third one-day game in Abu Dhabi, could mean back-up opener Phil Hughes is poised for a Test recall.

Warner has been ruled out of this week’s four-day game.

“Apart from Davey Warner, I’m pretty sure everyone else is 100 per cent fit to take part in the game,” Clarke said.

The tour match is believed to be 15 players per side, but Clarke says there’ll be no let-down in intensity.

“I’m not going into the tour game to give everyone a hit or a bowl,” he said.

“I’m going into the tour game to win that game and start building momentum into that first Test match.”

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