Injury doesn't heal fast enough for Martyn to join West Indies tour

Damien Martyn's race to recover from a hand injury to be ready for the one-day international leg of Australia's tour of the West Indies ended today.

He has been ruled out of the Travelex tour and Michael Clarke, who is already on the tour for the Test leg, will remain with the side.

Martyn suffered his injury, a broken right index finger, while in the field during Australia's five-wicket semi-final victory over Kenya at the World Cup on March 15.

Martyn had been receiving specialist treatment since returning from South Africa but a medical review of the injury showed that while it had healed, joint stiffness would prevent him from batting for another four weeks.

Martyn said that missing the Test series against the West Indies had been a bigger blow than missing the one-dayers.

"As time went by it became apparent that things weren't going to be entirely right for the one-dayers either," he said.

"Having had some time to contemplate the injury, I have been able to come to terms with sitting on the sidelines.

"I guess the selectors could have ruled me out of the squad earlier, but they gave me as much time as possible to prove my fitness, which I appreciate.

"I'm naturally disappointed that I won't be on the plane to the Caribbean, but it's important that I allow the treatment to take its course and get things right for good.

"I'm making steady progress, which is encouraging, and I'm really looking getting myself 100% right for the Top End Tour in Cairns and Darwin," he said.

Clarke, 22, made his one-day international debut for Australia in the VB Series match against England at the Adelaide Oval in January, scoring an unbeaten 39 runs from 47 balls, and taking 1-24 from seven overs with his left-arm orthodox spin.

Speaking from Barbados, Clarke said: I feel really sorry for Damien that he still isn't fit, after what must be a frustrating time on the sidelines.

"However, I'm thrilled to be able to stay on with the Australian side and hopefully play some part in the one-day series.

"Just being around the senior players on tour has been a terrific learning experience and I'm grateful for being given the chance to continue that.

"The one-day international that I played in Adelaide in January was the highlight of my career to date, so I'm really excited that there's the opportunity for more matches in national colours," he said.