Clarke’s club side will be probed after declaring at 17 runs for no loss.
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Michael Clarke’s Sydney cricket club is being investigated for declaring at 17-0 in an attempt to help the Australia captain’s chances of time at the crease before the first Test against India next week.
Clarke is in a race against time to be fit for the December 4 opener in Brisbane, having re-injured his hamstring during the one-day series against South Africa this month.
His club Western Suburbs were sent in to bat against Parramatta after losing the toss, only to declare on 17 without loss.
Club captain Jeff Cook said it was done to give Clarke a chance to bat the following Saturday.
“All I wanted to do was the best for Michael Clarke and Australia,” Cook told News Corp.
“I stand by what I wanted to do.
“I might have sacrificed six first-innings points, but it would be fantastic for cricket if 2,000 kids turned up to watch Michael try to prove a point to the Australian selectors.”
State governing body Cricket NSW said they would probe the issue.
“We understand Wests may have taken this action to increase the probability of Australian captain Michael Clarke batting in the second week of the game,” NSW Cricket chief executive Andrew Jones said in a statement.
“While Cricket NSW and the Sydney Cricket Association are conscious of the broader interest of Australian cricket, and appreciate the thinking behind this gesture, we are also conscious of the need to main the integrity of the Sydney Grade competition.
“Consequently we will investigate the full facts and evaluate Wests’ actions at the conclusion of the round.”
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