HARARE: Australia captain Michael Clarke, sidelined with a hamstring injury, may not be fit until the ‘back end’ of the triangular one-day tournament with Zimbabwe and South Africa, according to stand-in skipper George Bailey.

Clarke injured his hamstring at training in Harare and was scratched from Monday’s series-opener against Zimba­bwe, which Australia won by 198 runs.

“It happens a little bit too often,” Bailey said. “Hopefully ‘Pup’ will be right for the back end of this series. Rest up for the first couple and then get himself right.”

Australia play South Africa on Wednesday, with further matches next week before the final on Sept 6.

Australia are likely to be very cautious about rushing Clarke back, with a two-Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates to follow in October.

The team’s performance without their top batsman will also have buoyed selectors, along with the straight hitting of paceman Mitchell Johnson, who blasted a six into the television commentary box window.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2014