Michael Clarke: Australia captain could return for World Cup

24 December 2014

Australia captain Michael Clarke has said he could return from injury in time for the World Cup.

Clarke, 33, had surgery on a hamstring injury last week but had feared that his career could be over.

In his column for an Australian newspaper, Clarke wrote: "The biggest thing for me at the moment is getting back on the field for the World Cup.

"I have been told by medical staff that I am in as good a condition as I can be a week after undergoing the surgery."

Australia will co-host the World Cup, external with New Zealand. The tournament begins on 14 February.

Clarke was injured during Australia's 48-run first Test win over India at Adelaide.

He had injections to relieve spasms in his back while batting on the first day but returned to the crease a day later to complete a century.

Michael Clarke's injuries in 2014
1 March: Sustains a fractured shoulder after being hit by South Africa bowler Morne Morkel while hitting 161 not out in the third Test in Cape Town
31 August: Suffers a recurrence of a left hamstring injury while batting against Zimbabwe and returns home from the one-day tri-series. The injury, initially triggered by the long-haul flight to Zimbabwe, rules him out of the one-day series against Pakistan in October, though he returns for the Tests
14 November: Injures the same hamstring in the first one-day international against South Africa in Perth
9 December: Retires hurt on 60 with a back injury before tea on the opening day of the first Test against India in Adelaide. He later returns to complete a century
13 December: Limps off the field on the final day of the first Test against India holding his right hamstring and will miss the rest of the series

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