Clarke doubtful for first Ashes Test

Clarke, whose long-standing disc problem resurfaced during domestic duties this month, sat out Monday’s three-hour training session to give him maximum time to recover, physio Alex Kountouris said.

“He’s in the process of recovery now (and) part of the plan was for him not to have a bat today and hopefully he’ll be available for the game,” Kountouris said.

“I’m reasonably optimistic but until he bats tomorrow and recovers from that, that’s when we’ll know how he is. Until he bats tomorrow we can’t be absolutely 100 percent sure that he’s okay to go.”

Kountouris refused to rate the chances of the 29-year-old vice-captain playing the full five-day Test match.

“We want him 100 percent fit on Thursday, it doesn’t matter what he is today,” he said.

Australia have been hard-hit by injuries in the run-up to the Ashes series, with Clarke, batsman Simon Katich and bowlers Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle all coming back from a series of strains, knocks and fractures.

Clarke’s injury flared during his century for New South Wales against Victoria 10 days ago, forcing him to bat uncomfortably at number eight in the second innings and to be rested for last week’s game in Tasmania.

Reports said Clarke also missed training on Sunday and merely walked laps of the field, looking in discomfort as he did so.

Australia have named a 13-man squad for the first Test in Brisbane, starting on Thursday, instead of the usual 12 as cover for their injury problems. Spin-bowling all-rounder Steve Smith would be expected to cover for Clarke.

The injuries have compounded a sharp loss of form for Australia, who have won just one game in the last eight and slipped to fifth in the Test rankings before the much-anticipated Ashes series against arch-rivals England.