'Recovering' Clarke opting to alter travel plans for overseas tour to train at full intensity

Australian Test and ODI team captain Michael Clarke is in race against time for fitness and has said that that he probably needs more time than most in regards to the gap between getting off a plane and training at full intensity.

Clarke might opt to alter his travel plans for future overseas tours as he is in a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury for Monday's first ODI against Zimbabwe.

Clarke, who has had a five-month layoff since leading Australia to a 2-1 Test series triumph in South Africa, experienced pain in his left hamstring during the team's first training session on Friday, Sport24 reported.

The 33-year-old, who has battled a chronic back problem throughout his career, suspected the lack of rest after a 15-hour flight from Sydney to Harare may have caused the injury.

Clarke said that what he has learned through his career is that he needs more time than most in regards to the gap between getting off a plane and training at full intensity. He added that if it means he has to fly a couple of days earlier than the boys on the long trips, then that's what he has got to do.

The skipper said that it's hard because he is a big believer in travelling with the team, and has always liked that.

Clarke will have more time to rest up before being required to play on Australia's next trip, a Pakistan series in the UAE next month, which opens with a Twenty20 match, a format he has given up at international level.

Clarke said that generally when he travels to the UK, there aren't too many times that he has not got injured at the start of the series and he is normally at his most vulnerable at the start of a series.

So, he added that he feels he has got to be smarter with that, or at least try and work out how he can travel with the team but also do what's best to make sure he can play the first game.