Melbourne, Mar 11 (ANI): Michael Clarke, who abandoned the ODI series in New Zealand to return to Sydney and decide whether or not to continue his relationship with fiancee Lara Bingle, is expected to rejoin his Australian teammates on Saturday for the Test series against the Kiwis

The Australian vice captain is yet to tell team officials if he is mentally fit to play the Test series.

Sources close to Clarke revealed he was desperate to return to the Test side, especially with his credentials as a future Australian captain being seriously questioned, and intended to fly out for New Zealand on Saturday morning.

He was yesterday named in a 14-man squad for the upcoming two-match series. The first Test starts in Wellington on March 19, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Cricket Australia’s general manager of cricket Michael Brown spoke to Clarke late yesterday but said no definitive call had been made on whether he would rejoin the squad.

“He’s keen to play again but we have decided to give him another 24 hours to assess the things that are happening in his life right now. There has been no decision but we resolved to keep talking over the next few days,” Brown said.

Clarke’s decision to abandon the tour has attracted criticism in cricket circles with former players Ian Chappell and Mark Waugh questioning whether he was fit to one day replace Ponting as captain. (ANI)