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Stiff ankle keeps Clarke away

Adelaide - Skipper Michael Clarke missed training on Tuesday with a stiff ankle but officials insisted he will be fit for the second Ashes Test against England this week.

Clarke alarmed Australian ranks on Monday when he turned his right ankle as the team performed fielding drills at Adelaide Oval, although he then headed to batting practice and appeared unaffected.

However, he failed to take part in training Tuesday, walking stiffly out to inspect the pitch without joining in.

"Michael Clarke is not training today. His ankle is a bit stiff/sore. He will train tomorrow and will play the game," Cricket Australia tweeted, referring to the Test starting on Thursday.

Opener Shane Watson said Clarke did not train as a precaution.

"It was more precautionary than anything else," he told reporters.

"Michael batted beautifully in the first Test so his preparation was always going to be very good anyway.

"The medical staff and Michael are very confident that he was just having a break today and will be training flat out tomorrow, ready for Thursday."

Clarke scored a century in the first Test in Brisbane, which Australia won by 381 runs, and is a crucial part of the team as they seek to reverse the 3-0 series loss to England earlier this year.

The captain was initially in doubt for Brisbane with a long-standing back problem, but recovered in time.

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