Tuesday, January 5th, 2016

Clarke On Track After Quad Injury As Lions Prepare For 50 Over Series

Clarke On Track After Quad Injury As Lions Prepare For 50 Over Series

Joe Clarke is on track to be fit for the second leg of the England Lions winter programme this month.

The Worcestershire wicket-keeper-batsman suffered a quad injury during training after the first of five T20 matches against Pakistan 'A' in Dubai and missed the remainder of the series.

The Lions fly out to the UAE tomorrow (January 6) to play five 50 over games against Pakistan 'A'.

Clarke said: "The injury was frustrating but you have to put things in perspective. It is probably the only blip I've had in my short career.

"We did some sprint work, and I just felt it go. It is not really a massive blip. I tried to work hard to get it fit for the last two T20 games.

"But we sat down and said it wasn't worth the risk of trying to push it for those and then not be fit for the stuff after Christmas.

"We wanted to make sure it was fit for the 50 over games, which I was really pleased to get selected for and am really looking forward to taking part in.

"I've been doing quite a lot of rehab to get it ready for when we go away again. Ben Davies (Worcestershire CCC first team physio) is happy with my progress."

*Joe will be looking back with the Worcestershire CCC website on last summer, his Lions experience and hopes for the remainder of the winter and 2016 with Worcestershire during the next few days.