Clarke's injury paves way for 'forgotten' Callum Ferguson to stake Ashes claim

Forgotten Australian batsman Callum Ferguson can reportedly make his return to international cricket by staking a claim in the squad for the return Ashes series following captain Michael Clarke's withdrawal from this month's tour of India due to his recurring back injury.

Although Australian support staff is confident that Clarke will be fit for the first Test in Brisbane from November 21, it is yet not clear how much competitive cricket he will be able to play if he makes a slow recovery from the latest flare-up of his injury.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the decision to rule out Clarke from the seven-ODI tour of India paves the way for Ferguson, who plays in South Australia, to return to playing international cricket two years after his most recent game for Australia.

The report further said that Ferguson's return to the Australian fold, following a decent domestic summer in which he averaged 45 in the Ryobi Cup and 39 in the Sheffield Shield, will give him an opportunity to re-launch his international career at a time when Test batting places are up for grabs.

The career of Ferguson, who has a strong ODI record, was interrupted by a serious knee injury in 2009, the report added.