Injured skipper Michael Clarke will miss Australia's weekend tri-series one-day international against India, allowing George Bailey to join the squad, Cricket Australia said on Friday. Clarke missed Australia's crushing eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in Sydney on Friday and Ricky Ponting will again lead the side in Brisbane on Sunday. Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Clarke was not quite ready to return to action.
"Michael Clarke is progressing well in his recovery from a right hamstring injury but remains unavailable for selection in Brisbane," Kountouris said. "His availability for the ODI in Hobart (on February 24) will be determined early next week." Australia Twenty20 skipper Bailey will join the squad as a standby batsman and spinner Jon Holland will remain with the squad after being called up on standby for Xavier Doherty.
Bailey has been taken out of Tasmania's Sheffield Shield match in Hobart to provide batting cover for Australia, who have lost their last two matches in the tri-series. "While it is not ideal having to take George away from the Sheffield Shield match currently underway in Hobart, we feel it is important we have sufficient batting cover in our squad," team coach and selector Mickey Arthur said. "This selection is reward for George's excellent form with Tasmania this season and recognition that the selectors consider him the next batsman in line for Australian one-day selection." Australia - Ricky Ponting (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), George Bailey, Daniel Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ben Hilfenhaus, Jon Holland, Dave Hussey, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade.
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