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Injured Clarke to miss match against India

Last updated on: February 17, 2012 18:20 IST

Australia captain Michael Clarke will miss his second successive tri-series match after being ruled out of Sunday's fixture against India because of his hamstring injury.

"Michael Clarke is progressing well in his recovery from a right hamstring injury but remains unavailable for selection in Brisbane," team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris was quoted as saying in a Cricket Australia (CA) statement on Friday.

Ricky Ponting, who led Australia in their eight-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in Sydney on Friday, will remain in charge for the match against India in Brisbane while Tasmanian George Bailey was added to the squad as a standby batsman.

Michael Clarke"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," Australia coach Mickey Arthur said.

Victorian Jon Holland, drafted into the squad after fellow left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty suffered back spasms, will remain with the team.

Earlier in the day Clarke had indicated the he would miss the match.

"I've got a little hamstring strain. It's on the mend. It's probably unlikely I'll be picked for Brisbane, though," he said.

"I've done a lot of work over the last couple of days and physio Alex Kountouris would prefer me to rest but I'm not far away at all.

"It's going to be hard to watch, that's for sure, but the boys are flying so no doubt Punter (Ricky Ponting) can come out and do a great job, as he has for a long time," Clarke told the Nine Network.

While Clarke will miss the ODI against India, his junior team-mate Mitch Marsh is likely to be ruled out for six months with lower-back stress fractures.

The young Western Australian all-rounder complained of back pain during a training session at the SCG on Thursday and scans confirmed a stress fracture.

The 20-year-old will undergo further scans in Melbourne on Sunday to determine the extent of the injury but the youngster is likely to miss the rest of the summer and could be out for up to six months.

A replacement for Marsh in the national squad will be named if required ahead of Sunday's fixture.

Australian squad for Sunday's ODI: Ricky Ponting (captain), David Warner, George Bailey, Daniel Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ben Hilfenhaus, Jon Holland, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade.

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