Michael Clarke to consult medics before making IPL Commitments

Sydney: Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that he will consult with medical experts before making a decision about playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), although he added that it is unlikely that his back and hamstring problems will keep him out of the Ashes tour.

Clarke, who returned to Australia on Sunday morning after being ruled out of the final Test in Delhi, said that he will get the necessary scans and the X-rays done and get advice from the doctors before making a plan about whether or not to fulfill his IPL commitments. However, the captain expressed his optimism and said that he is positive that he will play in the upcoming back-to- back Ashes series and the ICC Champions Trophy. According to Clarke, the decision on his playing in the Delhi Test was taken out of his hands once he was unavailable for selection, adding that the Cricket Australia medical staff wanted him to get home as soon as possible to have scans and try and get him as fit again. It was the first time in the 92-match Test career of the captain stretching more than eight years that injury forced him out of the team. Clarke is due to star in a six-week IPL stint with Pune Warriors in early April before heading to England for the Champions Trophy in June, followed by the Ashes series. ANI