Cricket Australia has bent the rules to give Test captain Michael Clarke every chance of proving himself fit for the World Cup.
The 33-year-old will turn out for Sydney Grade Cricket club Western Suburbs this weekend as he continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury.
It will be a big boost to Clarke if he gets through the two-day match against Gordon at Chatswood Oval over the weekend given Cricket Australia has insisted the Test and one-day captain be fit in time for Australia’s second pool match of the World Cup against Bangladesh on February 21.
Clarke will play as a non-fielding batsman only and said he was mindful of not re-injuring himself two weeks out from the World Cup.
"It is exciting to be at this stage where I can consider walking onto a cricket field again and so, thanks to the guidance of the Cricket Australia medical staff and with the work I have put in, the signs are positive," he said.
"But at the same time I know I have to respect the fact that I am on a daily program and there is no point in us getting too far ahead of ourselves. I know I need to take things one step and one day at a time."
Clarke received special dispensation to bat despite not fielding for Wests.
CA and the Sydney Cricket Association have agreed to wave section 2.1 of the laws of cricket - which govern substitute fielders - for him.
The law states that substitute fielders can only be used if the umpires are satisfied a player has become injured after the nomination of players.
Since Clarke has a pre-existing injury, the game’s governing body has asked that he be given permission to have a substitute fielder prior to the match.
It’s the second time in recent months that accommodations have been made in grade cricket to assist the Australian captain.
In November Wests controversially declared at 0-17 in a grade match against Parramatta in order to give Clarke a chance to bat the following week.
However it backfired when Clarke was called in to play in a Cricket Australia XI instead.
Clarke will continue his rehabilitation away from the ground if Wests are sent in to the field on Saturday.
Wests coach Russel Grimson said he would speak with Clarke on Saturday to decide where he would bat but anticipated it would be at No.3 or No.4.
"It’s always fantastic to have a player of Michael’s calibre turning out for the black and white, we’re very excited," Grimson said.
"He’s always keen to support the club and has been ever since he started with Western Suburbs and is always keen to play."
The severity of Clarke’s hamstring tear, suffered while fielding in the first Test against India in Adelaide, meant Clarke was judged to be at long odds to play any part in the six-week tournament starting on February 14.
However, the Australian skipper is well ahead of schedule to beat the CA deadline, having batted in the nets and run at full pace over the last few weeks.
Should Clarke pull up well after this weekend’s hit out, he will continue his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane and turn out for a CA XI against Bangladesh on February 5.