Love set to hold out Clarke - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Love set to hold out Clarke

By Michael Crutcher 16/03/2003 09:26:09 PM Comments (0)

Martin Love's modest year continued in the Pura Cup final but the Queensland captain is expected to keep rising star Michael Clarke out of the Australian cricket squad to tour the Caribbean.

Selectors will name a 15-man squad on Monday, with Love and South Australian Darren Lehmann expected to squeeze Clarke out of a berth for the four-Test series against the West Indies.

Clarke failed twice for NSW in the Pura Cup final at the Gabba, lasting three balls for a duck in the first innings before a reckless 11 in Saturday's second dig wiped away some of his impressive work for 2003.

Love's returns in the final weren't great, posting two and 13 to continue his run without a half-century since the right-hander scored 62 not out during his Test debut against England in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

After a blistering start to the season, which featured two double-centuries against England, Love has scored 271 runs at an average of 24.63 in first-class matches in 2003.

The Queenslander is the incumbent Test No.6 after replacing an ill Lehmann for the final two matches against England and it's expected that pair will have the edge for a tour which won't be easy.

The batting issue was expected to be of the most interest when selectors held a telephone hook-up on Sunday night to decide on the Australian squad, which will open the series against the Windies in Guyana on April 10.

Steve Waugh will be named captain after declaring himself available on Saturday following weeks of uncertainty about his future.

Clarke is in serious contention after scoring 412 runs at 45.77 in first-class matches since Christmas but he has failed to score in three of his last six innings, which also included knocks of nine and 11.

His 120 against Queensland at the SCG last week displayed the quality which earned the 21-year-old selection in the Australian one-day team earlier this summer.

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