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Clarke back for Ashes tour opener

Jun 26, 2013

Captain Michael Clarke has been named to play in Australia’s opening Ashes tour game against Somerset in Taunton starting tonight.

Clarke hasn’t played a match since the third Test in Mohali in March, when his chronic back injury first flared up.

A recurrence when he arrived in the UK kept him out of the entire Champions Trophy one-day tournament.

However, Clarke’s return provides a timely boost for the Australians who will also be led by coach Darren Lehmann for the first time.

Opener Chris Rogers has been left out of the line-up for the opening match, but is tipped to be a front-runner for the first Test against England at Trent Bridge starting on July 10.

Ed Cowan and Shane Watson are likely to open the batting for Australia in Taunton.

James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle have been picked as the bowling attack for the first hit-out.

Fast bowler Ryan Harris is fit and expected to play in the second tour match against Worcestershire next week, despite initially expressing a desire to play in Taunton and rest in the lead-up to the first Test.

Clarke trained in Taunton on Tuesday, spending plenty of time in the nets.

Vice-captain Brad Haddin said it was a major boost to have Clarke back in the side.

“Michael is playing. It’s great news. It’s the first game on tour and obviously the Australian captain is pretty excited to play,” Haddin said.

“He’s in a good spot.”

Haddin said he didn’t know the reasons why Rogers was left in the side but admitted the Middlesex batsman was in good form with the bat in county cricket.

Batsmen like Watson, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Ed Cowan need runs to cement a place in the side with the batting order still up in the air.

David Warner is unavailable for the match due to suspension, while recently added batsman Steve Smith was also left out.

The question of who will open the batting for the first Test is also up in the air, however it appears as though Watson and Cowan have the best chance of partnering Rogers.

Australia haven’t confirmed their batting order for the tour match against Somerset and won’t until the toss.

Haddin said Lehmann had made a positive first impact as coach and that the players were moving on from the sacking of Mickey Arthur.

Lehmann, 43, didn’t mince words in his opening address to the media on Monday and was even more blunt when he gathered his players for the first time in the early evening in Taunton.

“We’re about winning cricket games. That’s as simple as it got,” said Haddin of Lehmann’s message in the meeting.

“Basically it’s a new start. A new coach has come in. We’ve all got to start afresh and move forward. As a group we’re pretty clear on what we want to do.

“Guys are ready to go. I can sit here and dwell on what’s gone before us. But our job is to move forward and start playing some cricket.”

Somerset will feature dumped England opener Nick Compton in their side, as he fights to prove selectors wrong for preferring youngster Joe Root for their Ashes warm-up against Essex.

Former England batsman Marcus Trescothick will also line-up for Somerset, while South African batsman Alviro Petersen is battling to overcome injury to play.

Australian team (order unconfirmed): Ed Cowan, Shane Watson, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon.

 

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