Clarke poised for comeback with NSW

Australian captain Michael Clarke is in line to make his comeback from injury to lead New South Wales in their Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania this week, team officials said Monday. Clarke's availability for Wednesday's game will be subject to a fitness review over a back problem, a spokesman said. NSW coach Trevor Bayliss is confident Clarke will have no problems passing the test to lead the state side that contain Test players David Warner, Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith. "We have a practice tomorrow and it will be up to Michael to make the final decision, but it sounds like everything is pretty good to go," Bayliss told Australian Associated Press Monday. "I think he'll be thinking about playing and it must be pretty good if he's been made available for selection. "We weren't really sure when he was going to come back and waiting on Cricket Australia and Michael to let us know." The star batsman was ruled out of Australia's one-day tour of India this month with a longstanding back problem, and feared he could miss the first Test against England starting on November 21. But after intensive treatment for a degenerative disc condition, which has been an issue since he was a teenager, the prognosis is good. "Michael is progressing well and recently recommenced batting in the nets," Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a statement last week. Clarke's back problem flared up again before Australia's final ODI against England in Southampton last month, at the end of a gruelling five-Test Ashes tour to England, which Australia lost 3-0. He played in that game, but selectors were reluctant to take any more risks given the big home summer coming up, and ruled him out of the India tour. Source: AFP