<p>Australian captain Michael Clarke is confident he will be fit for the second Test against Sri Lanka and started an intensive physio campaign today to overcome a hamstring strain.<br /></p>.<p>The world's leading Test batsman suffered the twinge in his team's 137-run win over the tourists in Hobart this week and he is racing the clock to recover in time for the next encounter in Melbourne from December 26.<br /><br />"I know I'm in great hands with (team physio) Alex (Kountouris) and I know how great a physio he is," said Clarke, who reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Test batsman rankings released last evening.<br /><br />Clarke, who entered the Hobart Test trailing Shivnarine Chanderpaul by just one ratings point, now leads the West Indian by nine points after knocks of 74 and 57.<br /><br />"Obviously my preparation will be a little bit different to the lead-up to this Test match but <br />I've done a fair bit of batting throughout the summer so I'm confident," he added.<br /><br />The prolific Clarke needs just 55 runs to equal Ricky Ponting's Australian record of 1,544 Test runs in a calendar year, set in 2005. The Melbourne Test is the last chance to overhaul his now retired former team-mate.</p>.<p>Clarke was included in the 12-man squad announced Tuesday with Usman Khawaja on standby. The Pakistan-born Khawaja played the last of his six Tests against New Zealand in Hobart a year ago.</p>.<p>"I'm really confident that with seven, eight days' turnaround (the injury will heal)," added Clarke.<br /><br />"I'll be giving myself every opportunity, that's for sure." </p>
<p>Australian captain Michael Clarke is confident he will be fit for the second Test against Sri Lanka and started an intensive physio campaign today to overcome a hamstring strain.<br /></p>.<p>The world's leading Test batsman suffered the twinge in his team's 137-run win over the tourists in Hobart this week and he is racing the clock to recover in time for the next encounter in Melbourne from December 26.<br /><br />"I know I'm in great hands with (team physio) Alex (Kountouris) and I know how great a physio he is," said Clarke, who reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Test batsman rankings released last evening.<br /><br />Clarke, who entered the Hobart Test trailing Shivnarine Chanderpaul by just one ratings point, now leads the West Indian by nine points after knocks of 74 and 57.<br /><br />"Obviously my preparation will be a little bit different to the lead-up to this Test match but <br />I've done a fair bit of batting throughout the summer so I'm confident," he added.<br /><br />The prolific Clarke needs just 55 runs to equal Ricky Ponting's Australian record of 1,544 Test runs in a calendar year, set in 2005. The Melbourne Test is the last chance to overhaul his now retired former team-mate.</p>.<p>Clarke was included in the 12-man squad announced Tuesday with Usman Khawaja on standby. The Pakistan-born Khawaja played the last of his six Tests against New Zealand in Hobart a year ago.</p>.<p>"I'm really confident that with seven, eight days' turnaround (the injury will heal)," added Clarke.<br /><br />"I'll be giving myself every opportunity, that's for sure." </p>