Clarke has been on the sidelines ever since tearing his hamstring while fielding during an emotional opening Test of the summer in Adelaide that came just days after Phillip Hughes’ funeral.
The Aussie skipper had probably pushed his body to play in that match and he paid for it in a big way, hurting his back while batting before injuring his hamstring out in the field.
In Clarke’s absence, Steve Smith has stepped up into the captain’s role with aplomb – even if some conservative tactics in the Melbourne and Sydney Tests were criticised – leading to reports Clarke’s team-mates wanted Smith to continue on in the role.
But suggestions of a rift between Clarke and his team-mates and of a showdown between Clarke and national selectors over his injuries and place in the side were laughed off by Clarke on Saturday after he completed a three-hour stint out in the middle, making 51 for club side Western Districts.
"I'm not going to get into it," Clarke told reporters, when asked about stories of rifts, reports that have also included apparent personality clash issues amongst the wives and girlfriends of the Aussie cricketers.
"It seems like some people in particular are going to write what they want to write so I'm really happy and comfortable with my relationship with Cricket Australia firstly, certainly with my team-mates.
"It's water off a duck's back for me. I've copped it my whole career. It's another day, it's another newspaper sold."
Clarke is facing a February 21 deadline to pass a stringent fitness test on hisback and hamstring in order to play some role in the World Cup, with Australia opening their Cup campaign with a February 14 clash with England at the MCG.
The skipper, though believes he’s ahead of where he needs to be to make the final squad.
"I've enjoyed watching the boys have success. Obviously, like any injured player, you want to get on the park and play for your country,” he said.
"I think being away from the team just makes you hungrier, makes you want to get back out there and play, hence why I'm here at Chatswood Oval trying to play for my club."