Michael Clarke registers fifty in comeback match

Australian skipper Michael Clarke scored a fighting fifty in his comeback match in Sydney Grade cricket.

Playing for his club side Western Suburbs against Gordon, Clarke came in to bat at number three. He brought up his fifty in the second session of the day and got out for 51 from 128 balls. Clarke hit two boundaries and a six, but what was more important was his knock lasted almost three hours.

As reported by Cricket Australia, Clarke, during the lunch session said, “So far so good. It’s obviously great to be back out there playing. There’s certainly a bit of rust in the system, as you would have seen, so it’s nice to be back out there in the middle.”

Clarke, who got injured during the first Test against India in early December last year, is happy with his progress.

“I’m certainly ahead of where of the surgeon and the Australian medical staff thought I would be at the six-and-a-half week stage. The fact that I’m back out on the field playing is a really positive sign, but there’s still a long way to go before I can walk out in an international [match] and play for Australia.The positive is I’m taking each step,” he added.

Clarke’s wife Kyly also joined him during the game and the duo was seen interacting with the fans.

The 33-year-old is trying to prove his fitness ahead of Australia’s second match of the ICC Cricket World Cup on February 21. Clarke will be flying to Brisbane on Sunday, where he will represent Cricket Australia XI in a World Cup warm-up match against Bangladesh at Allan Border Field on Thursday.