Injured Clarke doubtful for 1st Ashes Test
Brisbane: Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke missed training due a back injury on Monday, casting doubt over his fitness for the first Ashes cricket Test against England.
Clarke has been troubled by a degenerative back condition for most of his Test career and Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris has confirmed he is no certainty to play in the first Test which starts on Thursday at Brisbane's Gabba ground.
Clarke was unable to play for his New South Wales state team in the most recent round of Australia's Sheffield Shield competition after aggravating the injury in an earlier Shield match.
Kountouris said Clarke's absence from training on Monday was planned and his condition was being closely watched.
"He's in the process of recovery now (and) part of the plan was for him not to have a bat today and hopefully he'll be available for the game," Kountouris said. "I'm reasonably optimistic but ... until he bats tomorrow we can't be absolutely 100 per cent sure that he's OK to go."
Clarke refused to rate his level of fitness.
"We want him 100 per cent fit on Thursday, it doesn't matter what he is today," he said.
Clarke played no part in Australia's intense training on Monday. While his teammates warmed up, he walked laps of the Gabba oval before resting.
Allrounder Steve Smith, who remains a member of Australia's 13-man first Test squad, will likely play in Clarke's place if he is deemed unfit.
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