Clarke declares himself fit and firing

Australia captain trained freely ahead of Sunday's match against Zimbabwe, but still needs the green light from medical staff.

Australia captain Michael Clarke has given himself the all-clear to resume playing in his team's next tri-series match, against Zimbabwe in Harare tomorrow.

All he needs now is for the team's medical staff, who have become the skipper's constant companions since he tweaked his left hamstring during the squad's first training run after arriving in Zimbabwe last Friday, to agree with his prognosis.

Clarke underwent the most extensive session he's attempted since that time when the Australians trained at the Harare Sports Club on Friday, where their opponents for Sunday's match were doing their best to embarrass their more highly fancied neighbours, South Africa.

In addition to a lengthy hit in the nets, he went though some light jogging, simulated turning and running as will be expected of him in the field, and some agility work to gauge his close catching movements.

The only question is whether the stop-start sprinting required for running between the wickets will be affected by the injury and a final decision will be made on Saturday when team medicos judge how he has recovered and what he can do at the final pre-game training run on Saturday afternoon.

"Batting-wise I'm completely fine, I feel it a little bit batting but not much at all so it doesn't restrict me," Clarke said after the team's two-hour training that was followed by a gym session at the nearby Harare Country Club.

"The hardest thing has been running, so it's a real positive sign that I've been able to get through today.

"But there's no point getting on the park just to play a game when we've got 13 other guys here that really want to play and are 100 per cent fit.

"So I don't want to do the wrong thing by the team and my teammates, but if I pull up okay tomorrow then I'm 100 per cent fit to perform."

Clarke claimed there was no more danger of him incurring a more severe injury to the damaged leg if he returns for Australia's penultimate preliminary game of the current tri-series than he would face under normal circumstances.

Such are the ongoing management issues associated with his chronic back problems, the prospect of back-related leg injuries are with him almost as regularly as the doctor, physiotherapist and masseur who have been providing him with around-the-clock care at the team's Harare hotel.

And while grateful for their diligence and expertise, Clarke is growing as weary of his treatment regime as he is of sitting on the sidelines while his team is playing.

"I've been having treatment eight times a day," Clarke said.

"I'm living in that team room (at the hotel), I'm sick of the Game Ready machine icing my leg.

"My God, I'm icing every half an hour.

"I feel obviously frustrated because you train your backside off to play.

"But if all goes to plan I'll have missed two games of cricket and I'm right for the next two and hopefully the final (of the tri-series next Saturday) if we can make it.

"When you win it's easier, when you lose you feel like you've let the team down."

Clarke also confirmed that if he is passed fit to lead the team and bat in the top-order against struggling Zimbabwe on Sunday, he will also be able to bowl his left-arm spinners if required.

That could potentially prove decisive in the tournament's remaining matches as the pitches at the Harare Sports Club become increasingly spin friendly, as shown by the dominance of spinners from both teams in yesterday's match between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

More than half of the 20 wickets to fall in yesterday's low-scoring match, in which both teams were bowled out and South Africa ultimately prevailed by 61 runs, were captured by the specialist tweakers.

The dilemma for Australia's selectors is which of the top six batsmen will surrender their place if Clarke is passed fit, with Phil Hughes the most likely to again be the unlucky one despite posting an assured half-century against South Africa last Wednesday.

If, as expected, Lyon comes into the XI it's also likely that one of the fast bowlers - expected to be attack leader Mitchell Johnson - will be rested given that Australia will be closely eyeing the subsequent rematch with South Africa on Tuesday.

(Cricket Australia)