Clarke yet to finalise New Zealand plans

Cricket Australia is waiting for confirmation of Michael Clarke's travel plans to New Zealand for the two-Test series, but he remains on track to join the team ahead of Friday's opening game in Wellington. Clarke, the vice-captain, has announced his separation from fiancée Lara Bingle after leaving the one-day tour to sort out his personal issues.

Clarke will finalise his departure with Michael Brown, Cricket Australia's deputy, over the weekend and the most likely scenario is he will leave with the other Test specialists. "There is a group leaving Sydney for Wellington on Monday including Phillip Hughes, Steven Smith, Simon Katich and some others," the Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young told Cricinfo. "Michael Brown will be talking to Michael Clarke today or tomorrow to work things out."

Clarke's personal life has been the issue of the week in Australia and his management group asked for privacy when revealing the break-up. Cricket Australia have been supportive in giving Clarke time off and Ricky Ponting did not want his deputy to return to the squad until the situation had been sorted out.

"He is keen to rejoin the Test side, it's just a matter of working out when that will be," Young said. Clarke, who has played 58 Tests, has been in charge of the Twenty20 team since Ponting retired last year, but there is a feeling in cricket circles that he will need to reaffirm his leadership qualities if he is to be the next long-term captain.

Clarke arrived late to the West Indies series in 2008 after staying in Australia following the death of Bingle's father. He stepped straight back into the side for the second match and made 110.

The first Test against New Zealand starts at the Basin Reserve on Friday and Smith, the batsman-legspinner, has improved his chances of a debut after starring in New South Wales' Sheffield Shield win on Friday. Smith collected a career-best 7 for 64 to follow his first-innings century in a performance that will increase the pressure on Marcus North, the incumbent at No. 6, who finished the domestic season with a golden duck.