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Source: Close |Up -
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Michael Clarke's immediate cricketing future seems no clearer than his romantic future, despite being named in Australia's Test team to play in New Zealand next week.
The Test vice-captain, who flew home from Australia's one-day tour of NZ this week to console fiancee Lara Bingle during her nude photo scandal, was duly named for the two-Test series starting in Wellington on Friday week.
But Cricket Australia officials raised eyebrows by admitting they had no idea when Clarke might return to New Zealand, if at all.
Cricket general manager Michael Brown said he was "hoping" Clarke would be among a group of Test players flying to Wellington next Sunday or Monday.
"Our intention hopefully is to get him back into the side for the Test match," Brown told reporters.
But he could give no firm commitment that Clarke would even make the trip.
"He has not given me a drop-dead date," Brown conceded.
Asked if Clarke's off-field partnership with Bingle was over, he replied: "I've got no idea."
Brown said captain Ricky Ponting wanted Clarke back in the side, but only if he was 100 per cent committed to cricket.
"Unless he (Clarke) is ready to go, there is no point in going," Brown said.
"A happy cricketer has a happy home."
Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said he was happy the way Clarke's "leave" had been handled.
Officials dismissed as "hypothetical" many media questions, including whether Clarke had marred his long-term chances of succeeding Ponting, and whether Clarke might be granted leave again if he encountered personal problems, say, during the next Ashes series.
There was one final bouncer: was Australian cricket better off without the 22-year-old swimwear model who is Clarke's partner?
Brown ducked adroitly, saying Lara Bingle was not a contracted Australian cricketer.
