WELCOME: Australia captain Ricky Ponting is greeted by Digicel Jamaica sponsorship manager Maurice Bryan shortly after the world champions arrived in Jamaica on Monday. At right is Andrew Symonds. (GP)

SYDNEY – Michael Clarke could miss the first Test against West Indies in Jamaica next week following the death of his fiancée Lara Bingle's father.

The rest of Australia's squad departed for the Caribbean last weekend but Clarke stayed at home having been given compassionate leave.

Graham Bingle, who had been fighting cancer, died in Sydney on Saturday and with the funeral likely to be held later this week it is still unclear how long Clarke will remain in Australia.

"My priority is Lara and her family," Clarke told the Courier-Mail. "That's all that matters at the moment."

If Clarke was to fly out on the weekend he could arrive in Jamaica with as little as two days before the first Test, which begins on Thursday, May 22.

But a lack of practice – his teammates would have had a warm-up match by then – means he would be no certainty to play, according to coach Tim Nielsen.

(Cricinfo)