Clarke registers fifty in comeback

SCORECARD: Western Suburbs v Gordon

Australia's World Cup skipper Michael Clarke has registered a half-century in his comeback match in Sydney Grade cricket.

Playing for Western Suburbs against Gordon, Clarke was listed at No.3 in the batting order and walked to the crease after the loss of an early wicket.

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He was 26 not out at lunch and brought up his fifty with a single to fine leg midway during the second session.

He was dismissed a short time later for 51 from 128 balls, caught at shortish mid-on off the bowling of off-spinner Josh Poysden.

His innings featured two fours and a six and more importantly lasted almost three hours on a Chatswood Oval pitch he said was a little two paced after persistent rain in Sydney this week.

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"So far so good," Clarke said at lunch after he and opener Liam Gibson (53) had steered Wests to 1-55 at the break.

"It's obviously great to be back out there playing.

"There's certainly a bit of rust in the system, as you would have seen, so it's nice to be back out there in the middle."

The match is Clarke's first since he underwent hamstring surgery in December.

The 33-year-old is trying to prove his fitness ahead of Australia's second match of the ICC Cricket World Cup on February 21.

Clarke will fly to Brisbane tomorrow evening and he is hopeful that if he recovers well from this match, he will represent a Cricket Australia XI in a World Cup warm-up match against Bangladesh at Allan Border Field on Thursday.

He will play as a batsman with a limited fielding role in that match.

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While thrilled to be back playing, Clarke remained cautious and said the match was just another step on the road to the World Cup.

"I'm certainly ahead of where of the surgeon and the Australian medical staff thought I would be at the six-and-a-half week stage," he said.

"The fact that I'm back out on the field playing is a really positive sign, but there's still a long way to go before I can walk out in an international (match) and play for Australia.

"The positive is I'm taking each step.

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"It's nice to be in a position where the Australian medical staff can allow me to come back and play for my grade club, but it's one day at a time.

"My goal is to get fit as soon as I can and there's a time frame set by Cricket Australia and the selectors that I certainly understand and respect.

"It's just about me taking every single step and then as soon as I'm fit I'll be pushing the Australian medical staff to let me get back on the park and play for Australia."

Stand-in captain George Bailey said Clarke would be thrilled with his return, adding that spending time in the middle was more important than the runs he scored.

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Bailey said while he believed Australia could still win the World Cup without Clarke, he would love to have his skipper fit and ready for cricket's showpiece event.

"I still think we can win it without him, but I’d certainly prefer to win it with him," Bailey said in Perth ahead of the Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series final against England on Sunday.

"As far as I know (playing today) puts him well ahead of schedule. He’d be really happy.

"I think more importantly than the runs he scored today, he batted for close on three hours.

"For him to be able to sustain that physical activity for that long is great for him and really important for us in having him back and leading the side when he’s fit and healthy."

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Australia’s World Cup Fixtures

February 14: v England, 2:30pm at the MCG

February 21: v Bangladesh, 1:30pm at the Gabba

February 28: v New Zealand, 2:00pm at Eden Park (NZ)

March 4: v Afghanistan, 2:30pm at the WACA

March 8: v Sri Lanka, 2:30pm at the SCG

March 13: v Scotland, 2:30pm at Blundstone Arena

View the full fixture list here

#CmonAussie

Remember, you can also support Australia on the road to the World Cup by either tweeting @CricketAus the hashtag #CmonAussie or visiting this page to get your digital autograph from Clarke and go on to purchase your very own personalised World Cup top.

Get your 'digigraph' here