Michael Clarke’s fitness for 2015 World Cup in February crucial says former teammate Brad Hogg

DUAL World Cup winner Brad Hogg says Australia’s medical staff must do everything humanly possible to get Michael Clarke fit for February’s World Cup.

CRICKET - ASHES Tour 2005 - 19.6.05 - Australia v England at Bristol. Brad Hogg with Michael Clarke rush to celebrate with Simon Kasprowicz who took catch to dismiss Andrew Flintoff off the bowling of Hogg. . pic. Phil Hillyard.

DUAL World Cup winner Brad Hogg says Australia’s medical staff must do everything humanly possible to get Michael Clarke fit for February’s World Cup.

Hogg and former Test batsman Wayne Phillips said Clarke, whose latest back problem could keep him out of action for at least a month, brought much more to the table than just his batting.

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“He’s the leader of our country and he’s doing a fantastic job,” Hogg told the Herald Sun yesterday.

“He’s a great tactician. He’s probably the best tactician we have.

“It looks as though he’s going to have to have a break somewhere along the line.”

Hogg, who played in Ricky Ponting’s all-conquering World Cup sides of 2003 and 2007, said Clarke faced a big decision.

“He’s going to have to make a priority,” Hogg said.

“Whether it’s the World Cup or the Test series is the most important thing.

“I’d say he’d be doing everything he possibly can to make sure he’s captaining Australia on their home soil for the 2015 World Cup.”

Former Test captain Greg Chappell said the World Cup must be a big attraction for 33-year-old Clarke, but after that his white-ball career could be over.

“I’m sure he’d love to play in the World Cup and that will be something that will have to be managed and factored in,” Chappell told the Herald Sun.

“If he wants to continue playing Test cricket for a bit longer then he may have to look at restricting his other activities.

“He might have been looking at next year’s World Cup as a swan song for one-day cricket anyway.

“So I suppose along with the medical staff he’ll be weighing those things up over the next few weeks and months.”

Phillips said ideally Clarke would play on in both forms of the game.

“At some stage they’ve got to work out what the issue is, if it’s treatable,” Phillips said.

“But if it’s not, can he play some forms of the game and what are the best options for him?”

Phillips said plane travel around Australia and overseas couldn’t be helping the situation.

“Is he going to have to travel a different way than all of the others so that he can be fit and healthy when he plays?,” the former South Australia state coach said.

Phillips said Clarke was clearly still part of Australia’s best one-day team.

“Tactically and leadership-wise, very much so,” he said.

Australia’s schedule for the World Cup’s pool games included matches in Perth and Auckland

Originally published as Michael Clarke’s fitness for 2015 World Cup in February crucial says former teammate Brad Hogg