Australia vice captain withdraws from start of West Indies tour

Enlarge Photo Australia vice captain withdraws from start of West Indies tour

Fri, May 9 01:33 PM

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) _ Vice captain Michael Clarke has withdrawn from the start of Australia's three-test cricket tour to the West Indies to remain in Sydney for family reasons. The remainder of the squad broke camp in Brisbane on Friday and will leave Saturday for Jamaica.

Cricket Australia released a statement saying Clarke had been granted "compassionate leave for private family reasons" and his arrival date in the West Indies remained unclear. Mike Hussey will act as captain Ricky Ponting's deputy until Clarke rejoins the team, Cricket Australia confirmed.

Brad Hodge, currently playing in India, was named as shadow player and will join the squad enroute to the Caribbean. "Brad has had another strong domestic season with Victoria in all forms of the game.

He is still very highly regarded by the National Selection Panel and this provides him with another opportunity to be involved with the Australian squad," chief selector Andrew Hilditch said. Domestic media reported that Clarke had asked for a delay in his departure due to the failing health of his fiancee Lara Bingle's father Graham, who reportedly has cancer.

Clarke, who elected not to play in the lucrative ongoing Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition so that he could spend time with his family, became engaged to model Bingle after the last Australian summer.

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