Hussey believes Clarke should have been given two more weeks to prove fitness for WC

Former Australian Test captain Mike Hussey is of the opinion that skipper Michael Clarke should have been given two more weeks to prove his fitness to play in the World Cup that starts next month.

Hussey, who fumed at the selectors when set an unrealistic injury recovery deadline for the 2011 World Cup, indicated Rod Marsh's panel might have overlooked the unique nature of the competition when it demanded Clarke to play in Australia's second game, against Bangladesh on February 21, or play no part at all.

Hussey insisted that it's tournament play, it's not a cut-throat best-of-five series, Stuff.co.nz reported.

The former batsman said that the World Cup is about starting slowly, building momentum and doing enough to get through to the quarterfinals and semifinals. He added that one wants to be playing ones best cricket, with ones best players, at the back end of the tournament, not so much at the start.

After Bangladesh, Australia plays group stage matches against New Zealand, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Scotland. Hussey said that he would have given Clarke until the Sri Lanka game, on March 8, to be fit, allowing him two matches before the quarterfinals.

Hussey, who was a World Cup winner in 2007, claimed that he would be happy for Clarke to miss the first four games.

The former skipper insisted that Clarke is obviously a very important player, as he's the captain, has a lot of experience, and has played World Cups, adding that they need him.

Hussey insisted that Clarke should be given as much time as possible to get himself right and carried for as long as possible.