Clarke misses practice with sore abdomen

Leeds:

Michael Clarke will miss Wednesday's practice session with a sore abdomen but the team management insists that the Australian vice captain is not a doubtful starter for the fourth Ashes Test starting here on Friday.

"Michael Clarke has an abdominal strain that became sore after the completion of yesterday's game," Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.

However, Clarke who cracked a fluent unbeaten 103 in the third Test at Birmingham and is also the highest run-getter in the series so far, is expected to recover from the strain before the next match, he said.

"He will continue to be treated with a view to him being fit for the fourth Test beginning on Friday," Kountouris said.

England, who won the second encounter at Lord's by 115 runs, is leading the five-match Test series 1-0 against holders Australia.