Australia Test Team Leave for South Africa

Sydney: Australia's Test team left for its South African cricket tour Wednesday with captain Michael Clarke concerned over two players forced to remain behind to receive treatment on their injuries.

While fast bowler James Faulkner was ruled out of the tour on Tuesday with a right knee injury, Shaun Marsh (calf soreness) and Jackson Bird (back) will have to prove their fitness before making the trip.

"I'd like them to be on this plane now but that's not realistic," Clarke said at Sydney airport.

Both would likely need to leave Australia by the weekend if they want to take part in Australia's one warm-up match from Feb. 5-8 at Potchefstroom.

The first Test at Centurion begins Feb. 12. The second Test will be played beginning Feb. 20 in Port Elizabeth and the third from March 1 in Cape Town, followed by three Twenty20 matches.

Bird bowled well in the nets on Tuesday and will be passed fit if he has another positive session. Marsh's calf muscle strain is said to be minor, but medical staff are treating the injury with caution because he has had similar injuries before.

Clarke said Australia, which completed a 5-0 Ashes sweep and a 4-1 win in the one-day international series against England, needs to back that up against the world's No. 1 Test team in South Africa.

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