Australia hope for Clarke’s return after India thrashing

Clarke has had long-standing back trouble, and his last two Ashes tours were hindered by problems in that area.

The issue flared up again before the final Test of Australia’s 4-0 series defeat in India two months ago, and he has been unable to play a part in their Champions Trophy warm-up games, including yesterday’s crushing 243-run defeat to India in Cardiff.

A decision over Clarke’s availability for Saturday’s Edgbaston meeting, the first chance to gain a psychological advantage with the Ashes series just over a month away, will be taken in due course.

But George Bailey, who led the side in Clarke’s absence, said: “It is just precautionary with him. It’s his back which is always going to be the issue with Michael.

“He has had some stiffness there in the last couple of days and with such an important tournament coming up we did not see fit to risk him in these games, and it’s a reasonably big summer after this tournament as well so it is a case of managing him almost on a day-to-day basis.

“The plan is for him to play Saturday, that is what we are working towards, that he will be available Saturday.”

He added: “It would be a huge blow if he is not available, he is our best batsman and our captain and he is someone we need in the side and look forward to having in the side.”

Australia had started their final pre-tournament run-out well by reducing India to 55-5, but a superb 211-run partnership between Dinesh Karthik (146 not out) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (91) helped them recover to reach 308-5 from their 50 overs.

Umesh Yadav then took 5-18 as Australia were skittled for just 65 in 23.3 overs; by comparison their lowest score in a one-day international is 70.

“It’s not ideal,” said Bailey. “I don’t think you ever want to have a game like that whether it is practice or not. It’s not something we are particularly happy with.

“I thought we started well with the ball but maybe just fell away a little bit. Having said that they batted pretty well and it looked a very good batting wicket.

“It looked that if you kept wickets in hand there were plenty of runs to be had, but when it came to us to respond there wasn’t much there. All in all it was a pretty disappointing day.”

India will return to Cardiff tomorrow for the tournament opener against South Africa.

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said: “It’s a practice game and it is good to get as much as you can out of it from our point of view rather than looking at what the result is.

“The day after tomorrow this does not matter and we will have to start again.”

South Africa paceman Dale Steyn is an injury doubt for tomorrow’s curtain-raiser due to a side strain.

Steyn felt discomfort in the Proteas’ warm-up match against Pakistan and bowled only five overs.