Clarke therefore misses the first of 13 England v Australia clashes that will dominate a summer also containing five Tests, five ODIs and two T20s. He has not played a game since mid-March - the third Test against India - because of a weakness that has troubled him intermittently since he was 17, but he aggravated the condition on the long-haul flight from Australia. Australia should surely be looking for the best first-class flat beds they can find, even if the rest of the squad are put into cattle class.
George Bailey will stand in for Clarke with his usual affability. He can take consolation from the fact that the practice match against India will not appear in the official records because of the licence to play more than 11 players, and from a record which has seen Australia win their last six matches, including a 5-0 whitewash of West Indies.
England will find it a welcome change to be playing somebody different from New Zealand. They beat them 2-1 in New Zealand then lost by the same scoreline in England. It is time for a new challenge. It is not to decry New Zealand to observe that for many England fans the summer is about to begin for real.
Pitch and conditions
England is enjoying one of its most settled spells of summer weather in recent years and it is set to continue over the weekend. That could negate the threat of two new balls as batting conditions are more comfortable than anticipated. The bowlers can expect some more unsettled weather, especially in Cardiff.
Stats and trivia
Michael Clarke's attempts to get his back into shape ahead of back-to-back Ashes series included long bushwalks near Berrima in the New South Wales southern highlands with his fitness guru Duncan Kerr.
Kerr's other clients include the Australian children entertainers The Wiggles and he even played drums on one of their albums.
Jos Buttler's innings against New Zealand had the second highest strike-rate in any ODI of 15 balls or more.
The only England batsman to have a higher strike-rate in T20 internationals than Buttler is Phil Mustard, the Durham wicket keeper, and he only played twice.
England will find it a welcome change to be playing somebody different from New Zealand. They beat them 2-1 in New Zealand then lost by the same scoreline in England. It is time for a new challenge. It is not to decry New Zealand to observe that for many England fans the summer is about to begin for real.
Last Five Matches:
(most recent first, last
five completed games)
England:
WLLWW
Australia: WWWWW
Team news
England (probable): 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Tim Bresnan/Ravi Bopara, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Steven Finn, 11 James Anderson
Australia (probable): 1 Shane Watson, 2 David Warner, 3 Phil Hughes, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 James Faulkner, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Clint McKayPitch and conditions
England is enjoying one of its most settled spells of summer weather in recent years and it is set to continue over the weekend. That could negate the threat of two new balls as batting conditions are more comfortable than anticipated. The bowlers can expect some more unsettled weather, especially in Cardiff.
Stats and trivia
Michael Clarke's attempts to get his back into shape ahead of back-to-back Ashes series included long bushwalks near Berrima in the New South Wales southern highlands with his fitness guru Duncan Kerr.
Kerr's other clients include the Australian children entertainers The Wiggles and he even played drums on one of their albums.
Jos Buttler's innings against New Zealand had the second highest strike-rate in any ODI of 15 balls or more.
The only England batsman to have a higher strike-rate in T20 internationals than Buttler is Phil Mustard, the Durham wicket keeper, and he only played twice.
Match Details:
ICC Champions Trophy 2013
Group A League Match
Australia Vs England
Date:8th May 2013
Time:3:15 NST,9:30 GMT, 10:30 Local Time
Venue:Edgbaston
Click here to Watch ICC Champions Trophy 2013 Live in Star Cricket
Click Here to Watch England Vs Australia Live Stream
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