Champions Trophy: Michael Clarke to miss match vs New Zealand too
Michael Clarke travelled to London to receive treatment on his back, and Alex Kountouris, the Australia physiotherapist, said that while there was good progress, Clarke hadn't recovered sufficiently to play.
- Wisden India Staff
- Updated: June 12, 2013 12:36 PM IST
Michael Clarke has been ruled out of Australia's second match in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy - against New Zealand on Wednesday (June 12) - as well. Clarke, who has been out of action for a week after an old back injury flared up, had missed Australia's warm-up fixture against India and the first match against England.
Clarke travelled to London to receive treatment on his back, and Alex Kountouris, the Australia physiotherapist, said that while there was good progress, Clarke hadn't recovered sufficiently to play.
"Michael is continuing to have intensive treatment in London, and whilst he is making good progress, he has not improved sufficiently enough to play the game against New Zealand on Wednesday. We will continue to monitor his progress and determine his availability for next week's final group game against Sri Lanka," said Kountouris.
Australia, who won the trophy in the last two editions in 2006 and 2009, lost the first match against England by 48 runs and a loss against New Zealand will all but end their semifinal hopes. Earlier, they had gone down by a massive 243 runs against India in the warm-up match after folding up for just 65 runs.
George Bailey, Australia's regular Twenty20 captain, is leading the Australian team in Clarke's absence.