Australia skipper Michael Clarke will miss the IPL with a back injury but is confident he will be fit for the Ashes.
Michael Clarke did not lead his side out in the fourth and final Test against India last Thursday as he had to miss the match through injury.
A spinal problem that has caused Clarke difficulty throughout his career is now going to rule him out of action for the next 10 weeks.
This is bad news for Pune Warriors of the IPL as the injury will mean the Australian captain will miss the whole of the 2013 season. Pune only acquired Clarke’s signature during the IPL auction in January.
There is also a doubt cast over the 31-year-old’s availability for his country in the Champions Trophy, which starts in England in June.
However, the assessment from the Cricket Australia medical staff that Clarke will miss 7-10 weeks of cricket means the skipper should be fit for the start of the Ashes series in July.
England and Australia will play back-to-back Ashes series in 2013, with Clarke and his side looking to regain the most prized urn in cricket for the first time since 2007.
Australia are licking their wounds after a heavy 4-0 whitewash in India, where the tourists struggled in all departments and their skipper was the only Australian in the series to make a century.
Shane Watson filled in for Clarke in the fourth Test against the Indians, but with Watson’s place in the Ashes squad still not certain the Aussies will be hoping their usual leader is back to full fitness as soon as possible.
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