However, his fate hinges on a two-day tour game starting on Friday in Adelaide.

There were no surprises in Australia’s 12-man squad but speculation over Clarke’s availability will continue through the week.

Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc were dropped from the XI, which lost the second Test against Pakistan, replaced by Shane Watson, Ryan Harris and Josh Hazlewood, who is the only uncapped player in the squad.

Clarke is undergoing daily treatment for his hamstring and back conditions and should he resume running in the coming days will play for a CA XI against the touring Indians.

How he pulls up from that game, if he makes it to the start line at all, will determine whether he leads his country in the first Test.

Selectors did not name a shadow batsman for Clarke, giving those in line another round of Shield games to press their claims should the captain not prove his fitness.

‘‘We still have some time before having to make a final decision on Michael’s fitness,’’ Australia’s team doctor, Peter Brukner, said.

‘‘As you would expect, he’s desperate to play and we are doing all that we can to ensure he can do just that. Over the coming days the plan is to build him up so that he can resume running with the ultimate aim of getting him some high-intensity match practice ahead of the first Test.’’

Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh also confirmed Clarke’s inclusion was subject to his passing a fitness test.

‘‘We would have preferred him to play in the round of Sheffield Shield starting tomorrow but unfortunately his condition did not allow him enough time to be ready for that match,” Marsh said.

‘‘The aim is for him to play in the two-day CA XI match against India at the Adelaide Oval starting this Friday and his selection for the first Test is very much dependent on him pulling up well from that match. 

‘‘It goes without saying that Michael is a world-class batsman and it is important that he is 100per cent fit to be able to play in the first Test.’’

■Test squad: Michael Clarke (c), Brad Haddin (vc), Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.