Clarke certain to play against West Indies

Michael Clarke has regained his fitness and could open the batting for Australia in their first match of the VB Series against West Indies at Melbourne on Friday (January 14). Clarke, who was a doubtful starter for the match due to a foot injury, showed no signs of discomfort during training on the eve of the game and has been tipped to partner Adam Gilchrist at the top of the order.

Ricky Ponting stated that Clarke or Damien Martyn would take up the slot. "Clarke wants to open as well and has done it before, he got a hundred in Zimbabwe doing that, so we've got a couple of options there," Ponting said, according to ABC Sport. "Damien's done extremely well when he's had the chance to open before. So we've got the two options, but probably leaning towards Clarke at the moment."

Earlier, the spot left vacant by Matthew Hayden's omission was expected to be filled by Simon Katich, but Katich himself is a doubt for the game due to a throat infection which forced him to miss practice on Wednesday. Ponting indicated that Katich only had a 50% chance of playing. "He has improved a lot and we'll have a look at him later today and then again tomorrow morning before we name the team."