Australia play third ODI without Clarke

9 Mar 2010, 11:23 am   -   Source: AAP
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Vice Captain Michael Clarke returned home suddenly from the tour of New Zealand.

Vice Captain Michael Clarke returned home suddenly from the tour of New Zealand.

Australia's cricket tour of New Zealand has been plunged into confusion with the shock departure of vice-captain Michael Clarke ahead of today's third one-dayer in Hamilton.

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Australia cricket coach Tim Nielsen will be forced to make one change to his winning team for Tuesday's third one-day international against New Zealand in Hamilton.

Vice-captain Michael Clarke was given leave for personal reasons on Monday night, he's returning to Sydney and the team hasn't said when he will return.
   
No details were given but Clarke's fiancee Lara Bingle has announced she's suing AFL player Brendan Fevola over the circulation of a nude photo taken without her consent in 2006.

There could also be a family illness as Clarke's father Les has battled cancer in recent years.

The tourists got themselves back into the five-match series with a tense 12-run win in the second game in Auckland on Saturday and Clarke's departure has reduced the squad to 12 players.

Ricky Ponting's side face a gruelling week with a fourth ODI clash back in Auckland on Thursday and the final match in Wellington two days later.
   
"Winning form is good form isn't it so it's hard to change the team. But we're also mindful of the fact that there's three games in five days," Nielsen said before Clarke's departure was announced.
   
Doug Bollinger (0-63 off eight overs on Saturday) may face competition from fellow quick Clint McKay for his spot.

Nielsen and New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said Tuesday's clash was a massive game in the context of the Chappell-Hadlee series.

"To win this game and take the momentum will certainly help. We play three games in five days now so the time to travel and prepare now is minimal," Nielsen said.

The Black Caps have been hit hard by injury, with star batsman Ross Taylor and all-rounder James Franklin both rated by Vettori as only 50-50 chances because of hamstring strains.
  
"It's probably the most important game of the series. The team that can go two-one up only needs to win one more to take out the series," Vettori said.
   
"So we're trying to put everything into this game. We enjoy playing here.
   
"It's a great cricket ground so the guys are pretty excited about being here."
 
A sell-out crowd of about 10,000 are expected to pack into Hamilton's Seddon Park, with fine conditions forecast.




 

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