Australian batsman Michael Clarke has been ordered to return home from his team's
short tour of New Zealand because of a hip problem.
Clarke, who was originally selected as vice-captain for the three-match tour,
missed Friday's series opener in Wellington after feeling pain in his hip the
previous day.
Australia's physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Clarke
would not recover in time to play in the remaining two matches and had been
sent home as a precaution to ensure he was available for the World Cup,
starting in the West Indies next month.
"Michael is still suffering some hip soreness in certain
movements and has not progressed to the point where he is able to play a part
in the Chappell Hadlee Trophy," Kountouris said in a statement.
"As such, he will return to Sydney tomorrow (Saturday)
to allow sufficient time to recover and is expected to be fully fit in time
for the beginning of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup."
Phil Jaques had already been called into the squad as
a replacement for Clarke, one of four Australian World Cup players under an
injury cloud.
All rounder Andrew Symonds is recovering from bicep
surgery and will miss at least the first half of the World Cup, captain Ricky
Ponting pulled out of the New Zealand trip with a back problem and
fast bowler Brett Lee was sent home after injuring his ankle.
New Zealand thrashed Australia by 10 wickets in Friday's series
opener. The second match is in Auckland on Sunday.
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