Australia's Clarke ready to play

Auckland, Feb 27 (IANS) Australia skipper Michael Clarke is set to make a comeback in the high-voltage cricket World Cup Pool A game against New Zealand here Saturday, following his recovering from hamstring surgery.

“I’m ready to go, the body feels really good, I have worked really hard,” Clarke was quoted as saying by news.com.au ahead of the Eden Park match.

Clarke’s return got delayed as he was supposed to feature in the Feb 21 match against Bangladesh in Brisbane which got washed out.

The 33-year-old injured his hamstring during India's tour Down Under in December 2014 after which he underwent a surgery. After months of rigorous training and practice, Clarke says the injury is now a thing of the past.

“Everyone is sick of talking and reading about my injury, my old injury I should say. The work I’ve put in has given me a chance to get back out on to the park and be able to play at 100 percent,” said Clarke.

“I know I can walk out on to the field tomorrow and go at 100 miles an hour and if I get injured I get injured. I’m like every other player. I feel like I’m as fit and healthy as I’ve been in at least five years.”

Clarke is likely to replace stand-in captain George Bailey.