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Forget about batting, bowling, and fielding – sitting down could be the ultimate test for Michael Clarke’s dodgy hamstrings.
Clarke made a successful return from hamstring surgery during last week’s one-wicket loss to New Zealand.
But the 33-year-old admits he’s in uncharted territory now as he attempts to negotiate his way through a series of long-haul flights.
Clarke made the seven-and-a-half hour flight to Perth on Sunday ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Afghanistan at the WACA Ground.
The 108-Test veteran will then fly to Sydney on Thursday in preparation for Australia’s World Cup showdown against Sri Lanka at the SCG.
Asked if he had any special plans to help him deal with the flight back, Clarke joked: “We haven’t got the massage tables on the flight at this stage.
“I’ll just do the same as I’ve done in the last 12 years – try to sleep when I can; watch a movie when I can’t (sleep); get up and walk when I’m sick of watching movies; eat as much food as possible, and don’t drink alcohol.
“I’ve got to keep my maintenance up, keep listening to the medical staff and doing as they ask because I feel like it’s helping me at the moment, that’s for sure.”
Clarke admits his recovery will need to be spot on in order to deal with all the flights.
“I’ve had a back injury since I was 17. My treatment, preparation, and training hasn’t changed since then. It won’t change until the end of my career,” Clarke said.
“We just continue to learn from other people and take their expertise in regards to people who have had chronic back injuries and see if it helps me.
“I feel as fit and as healthy as I’ve felt in five years. That’s a real positive sign.”
Clarke was dismissed for 12 against NZ, and the skipper will be hoping for an extended stay in the middle against an Afghanistan outfit that showed plenty of fight against Sri Lanka.
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