Michael Clarke To Return Home From New Zealand

Michael Clarke To Return Home To Australia

Michael Clarke is heading home due to 'personal reasons'.

©Action Images / Ed Sykes Livepic

Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke is due to return home to Australia from New Zealand due to personal reasons, Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed.

A statement did not put a timeframe on his absence from the team, adding instead that: "It is not know at this stage how long Clarke will be away from the team."

General Cricket Manager Michael Brown added: "Michael is attending to personal, non-cricket matters and we ask on his behalf that his privacy be respected."

With three matches of a five-match One-Day International series still to be played, CA will now consider whether a replacement player is to be flown out to New Zealand.

Australia will complete their tour with two Test matches, the squad for which is to be named tomorrow (9th March), when the third ODI takes place in Hamilton.

© Cricket World 2010

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