Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke will miss the start of their tour of the Caribbean after being given compassionate leave to remain in Sydney for private family reasons.

The squad departs on Saturday, with Michael Hussey temporarily taking over as captain Ricky Ponting's deputy.

A replacement  will be announced by the Cricket Australia National Selection Panel in due course. Probably Brad Hodge.

Hodge, 33, who started the season with Lancashire, has been playing in the Indian Premier League.

Michael Hussey said: "Despite the circumstances it is a huge honour to be given the role of vice captain, even if it may only be for a short period of time.”

The squad was announced last month with leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and batsman Simon Katich  handed Test recalls, and with Brad Haddin replacing Gilchrist (retired) as wicket-keeper.

After the Test series, a Twenty20 international will be played on 20 June followed by five one-day internationals, concluding on 6 July.

The squads are as follows:-

Test squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), (Michael Clarke), Beau Casson, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Ashley Noffke, Andrew Symonds.

ODI squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), (Michael Clarke), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Andrew Symonds, Cameron White.