There are still concerns over Michael Clarke's fitness ahead of this week's opening Ashes test in Brisbane with the vice-captain taking little part in Australia's first training session.
Clarke wasn't kitted out as the rest of the squad started training at Brisbane's Allan Border Field.
Clarke has been plagued by a chronic back injury for much of his Test career and aggravated it while scoring a Sheffield Shield century for New South Wales a fortnight ago.
He missed the Blues' subsequent Shield loss to Tasmania last week to rest the injury.
When selected in the squad for the first Test against England, he was confident he would be fit to play but the selectors have kept young all-rounder Steve Smith in their squad and he looms as the 29-year-old's likely replacement if he is forced out.
