Clarke at odds with cricket chiefs over test

Michael Clarke. Photo / Getty Images

Michael Clarke will miss the first test against India as Cricket Australia mulls over how to mend his hamstring and frayed relationships.

CA is understood to be disappointed with the captain and his communication breakdown with selectors, which bubbled to the surface amid confusion and contradiction on Monday.

Chief executive James Sutherland said yesterday that he would seek answers from Clarke as to why he and CA had such contrasting views on the state of play.

"I will speak to Michael and others who've been involved in the process to make sure I understand where these things have gone awry," Sutherland said.

"It's not appropriate for me to go into any more detail. All I can say is I'm concerned there are some mixed messages coming out of Cricket Australia in the last 24 hours or so.

"I want to understand why things have fallen off the rails a bit there."

The hamstrung skipper was told he needed to play a two-day tour game against India in Adelaide starting on Friday to prove he was ready for five days of test cricket on Thursday next week.

That in itself was something of a compromise, with this week's Sheffield Shield clash rated a more suitable fitness test given Clarke has suffered three hamstring setbacks since August.

Clarke, having been named in a 12-man squad on Monday morning, seemingly confirmed in the afternoon he would not play at the Adelaide Oval. "I've been pulled out of, or passed unfit to play, the game in Adelaide," he said.

"The medical team in the Australian cricket team have ruled me out of that game."

But the 33-year-old was determined to play for club side Western Suburbs on Saturday, saying he could prove then he's ready for the Gabba.

"Hopefully I can make myself available, then it's completely up to the selectors to work out what to do."

Incredulous CA figures were shocked by Clarke's words at a sponsor's event in Sydney. They had already been blindsided by Western Suburbs' declaration at 0-17 last Saturday, made to give Clarke a chance of batting on day two.

"A final decision on his fitness has not yet been determined and he has not yet been ruled out of the tour match by the CA medical team," CA said in a Monday night statement.

"Should Michael play the tour match and recover well, the selectors have said he will take his place in the test side."