Australia confident Clarke will face England

Australia expect Michael Clarke to face England in their Champions Trophy opener despite the captain travelling to London on Wednesday for specialist treatment on his longstanding back problem.

The injury flared up again before the final Test of Australia's 4-0 series loss in India two months ago, and he has been unable to play a part in their Champions Trophy warm-up games, including Tuesday's 243-run hammering by India in Cardiff.

A decision over Clarke's availability for Saturday's Edgbaston meeting, the first Anglo-Australian clash of an Ashes season, will be taken in due course.

But George Bailey, who led the side in Clarke's absence on Tuesday, said: "It is just precautionary with him. It's his back which is always going to be the issue with Michael.

"He has had some stiffness there in the last couple of days and with such an important tournament coming up we did not see fit to risk him.

AFP