Clarke fit for first Test, Hughes named '13th man'

Adelaide, Dec 8 (IANS) Australia captain Michael Clarke has overcome a hamstring injury and will lead his side in the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval here Tuesday. The late Phillip Hughes was named the team's '13th man' for the series opener.

Pacer Mitchell Johnson standing in for Clarke at the pre-Test media conference Monday confirmed that the skipper was fit to play while Shaun Marsh will return to dometic cricket.

The selectors resisted the temptation to blood in-form paceman Josh Hazlewood, sticking with the experienced combination of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris.

"Josh Hazlewood misses out and Phillip Hughes is our 13th. Shaun Marsh is going to go back to play Shield cricket and Josh is going to stay on. That squad is going to be the same for Brisbane," Johnson was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

"It's a huge boost to have him (Clarke) back and playing for us. With his captaincy and he's shown how strong he is over the last couple of weeks with the tragedy that we've had, so it's really nice to have him back. He is a strong captain and we need him out there in this tough series."

The left-arm pacer said that Australian bowlers would continue to be aggressive and surely dish out the short-stuff to the visitors.

"We have got to play the way we have been playing," Johnson said. "That is being aggressive. That's the way I have always played the game. I know our boys will be out there playing the best cricket we can. If that is bowling the short ball like we have been, then that is what we will do. You've got to assess the conditions but we're not going to change a thing."

Australia squad: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon. Josh Hazlewood (12th), Phillip Hughes (13th).