NMC: Pilgrims set to enjoy 16 years of spring and winter Hajj seasons starting from 2026 NMC opens Media and Awareness Production Center in Mina    Saudi ministry launches comprehensive dictionary of energy terminology    Prince Salman inaugurates Smart Pass initiative at Madinah airport    Saudi Arabia plans to boost oil production capacity to 12.3 million bpd by 2028    US-made munitions used in deadly Israeli strike on UN school in central Gaza    Looked down and out, India's opposition is now back    Putin warns Russia could arm enemies of Western nations supplying weapons to Ukraine    Georgia election subversion conspiracy case against Donald Trump indefinitely postponed    Al-Qasabi at Shoura Council: Commercial registrations surge 43% in 6 years    Saudi delegation participates in ITU Council meeting in Geneva    PIF prices inaugural £650 million bond offering    Riyadh Air signs MoU with China Eastern Airlines to strengthen Saudi-China air travel    Mohammed Al-Turki steps down as CEO of Red Sea Film Foundation    Cristiano Ronaldo hails 2023-24 RSL season as 'one of the best' of his career    Germany's head coach blasts public broadcaster for 'racist' survey    TeamLab Borderless Museum opens at Historic Jeddah The first of its kind in the Middle East    Climate protester sticks poster over Monet painting at Paris museum    Cristiano Ronaldo vows Al Nassr will come back stronger after King's Cup heartbreak    Al Hilal clinches King Cup in intense penalty shootout and dramatic final    Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale concludes with massive attendance    JK Rowling in 'arrest me' challenge over hate crime law    Trump's Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles    Hollywood icon Will Smith shares his profound admiration for Holy Qur'an    We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Clarke confident of playing Test
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 12 - 2012

SYDNEY — Australian captain Michael Clarke is confident he will be fit for the second Test against Sri Lanka and started an intensive physio campaign Wednesday to overcome a hamstring strain.
The world's leading Test batsman suffered the twinge in his team's 137-run win over the tourists in Hobart this week and he is racing the clock to recover in time for the next encounter in Melbourne from Dec. 26.
“I know I'm in great hands with (team physio) Alex (Kountouris) and I know how great a physio he is,” said Clarke, who reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Test batsman rankings released Tuesday evening.
Clarke, who entered the Hobart Test trailing Shivnarine Chanderpaul by just one ratings point, now leads the West Indian by nine points after knocks of 74 and 57. “Obviously my preparation will be a little bit different to the lead-up to this Test match but I've done a fair bit of batting throughout the summer so I'm confident,” he added.
The prolific Clarke needs just 55 runs to equal Ricky Ponting's Australian record of 1,544 Test runs in a calendar year, set in 2005. The Melbourne Test is the last chance to overhaul his now retired former teammate.
Clarke was included in the 12-man squad announced Tuesday with Usman Khawaja on standby. The Pakistan-born Khawaja played the last of his six Tests against New Zealand in Hobart a year ago.
“I'm really confident that with seven, eight days' turnaround (the injury will heal),” added Clarke. “I'll be giving myself every opportunity, that's for sure.”
The Australian bowling unit has also been ravaged by injury this year with Pat Cummins and James Pattinson already ruled out for the season and Josh Hazlewood, who was included in the squad for the last Test against South Africa, sidelined with a foot injury.
Big task for NZ in South Africa
The New Zealand Black Caps will be underdogs on their cricket tour of South Africa, with the first Twenty20 international against South Africa scheduled for Durban Friday.
Hit by injuries and the unavailability of leading batsman and former captain Ross Taylor, New Zealand's best chance of matching their powerful hosts would appear to be in three Twenty20 internationals, which precede two Tests and three One-Day Internationals.
Led by Brendon McCullum, one of the world's leading T20 batsmen, New Zealand will hope to match an experimental South African squad in the shortest form of the game.
Their chances in the Tests would seem to be minimal against South Africa, which claimed the world No. 1 ranking by beating England in England earlier this year and then endorsed that status with an away win against Australia.
New Zealand's hopes in the Tests are likely to depend on a handful of key players such as batsmen McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson and fast bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult. — Agencies


Clic here to read the story from its source.