Clarke to return against Bangladesh

Friday, 20 February 2015 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Australia captain Michael Clarke REUTERS: Australia captain Michael Clarke will return to the side for Saturday’s World Cup match against Bangladesh after recovering from hamstring surgery, coach Darren Lehmann said on Wednesday. Clarke’s race to be fit has been something of a soap opera in Australia and he played his first match for the team in two months last week in a warm-up against United Arab Emirates. Clarke hit 64 against UAE but sat out the team’s 111-run romp over England in their tournament opener. “Yeah, he’s playing mate,” Lehmann told reporters in Brisbane. Clarke, who is likely to replace stand-in skipper George Bailey, bowled and batted in the nets on Wednesday and was satisfied with the progress he has made. “We had a good conversation (with selectors) last week and thought it was in the team’s best interests to not play against England and give me another week,” he said. “At this stage I think the selectors are very happy.” Heavy showers have been forecast for the weekend and the two cyclones expected might push Clarke’s return back to Australia’s Feb. 28 match against co-hosts New Zealand in Auckland.