| Australia captain Michael Clarke has been ruled out of Thursday's Commonwealth Bank Series decider against Sri Lanka with a hamstring injury. Australia coach Mickey Arthur revealed Clarke, together with pace bowler James Pattinson (buttock muscle strain), would miss the third final in Adelaide. Arthur also said Clarke's participation in the limited-overs segment of the West Indies tour later this month is in doubt as a result of the injury to his left hamstring. Clarke was just two matches into his return from a right hamstring strain that kept him out for three matches in the league stage of the tournament. And his absence will come as a significant blow to Australia, who have lost four of their last five ODIs against Sri Lanka. He scored 117 in the second match of his comeback, although Sri Lanka still won by eight wickets to level the series. Clarke, who replaced Ricky Ponting as captain last April, was recently voted Australia's player of the year and has been in outstanding form with the bat in the ODI and test formats. "It doesn't look great for certainly the early part of the one-day series in the West Indies," Arthur said of the doubts surrounding his skipper. Ponting led the team in two league matches during the tournament but has subsequently been told by selectors that he will no longer be considered for ODI selection. Regular vice-captain Shane Watson stood in during Clarke's absence immediately before the tri-series finals started But the all-rounder is only just returning from almost three months on the sidelines with his own injuries, and is yet to find his peak form. The Australian squad departs Friday for the Caribbean to play five one-day matches against the West Indies The first three are due to take place in Kingstown, St. Vincent on March 16, 18 and 20 and the final two matches are scheduled for Gros Islet, St. Lucia on March 23 and 25. The teams will then play two Twenty20 internationals before the three-Test series starts on April 7 at Bridgetown, Barbados. |