Making a return: Clarke continues to prove fitness

The 33-year-old batted, bowled and fielded without any problem.

BRISBANE: Australia captain Michael Clarke continued his push to prove his fitness ahead of the cricket World Cup by bowling two overs and making a handy 34 in a warm-up match against Bangladesh yesterday.

The 33-year-old has until Australia’s second match of the tournament, against Bangladesh on Feb 21, to prove his fitness after undergoing surgery on a torn hamstring. He played a club game in Sydney at the weekend and then turned out for the Cricket Australia XI against the Bangladeshis at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

Clarke had expected to play just a limited part in the game, but bowled two overs of left-arm spin and fielded in the slips and on the boundary.

His hamstring was well tested as he took a low catch in the slips to dismiss Bangladesh captain Shakibal Hasan and spent two hours in total on the field.

He also returned to bat and made 34 from 36 balls, including six fours, and looked in no discomfort. “In my opinion, there’s still a gap between where I am now and playing an ODI for Australia,” Clarke, who will head to Adelaide today to join the rest of the Australian squad, told reporters. “But the fortunate thing is I’ve got plenty of time to close that gap. I’m trying to get fit and healthy as soon as possible, and then the experts will make those decisions.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2015.

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