Injury ravaged Aussie skipper Michael Clarke says he may never play again

Adelaide: Injury-jinxed Michael Clarke says there is a chance he may never play cricket again after another setback forced him out of Australia’s first Test triumph and the rest of the India series on Saturday.

The Australia skipper suffered a new injury after pulling up sharply while fielding after lunch, forcing him to watched on as his team-mates pulled off a thrilling 43-run victory over the Indians to go one-up in the four-match series.

“There’s no doubt, there’s certainly a chance, I may never play again. I hope that’s not the case and I’ll be doing everything in my power to get back out on the park, but I have to be realistic as well,” Clarke said.

He said scans revealed he had torn his right hamstring, adding that the diagnosis was not good. “I’ve had my scans, the scans are not great, they have certainly showed a tear there. The experts are looking at them and I can pretty confidently say that I won’t take part in this Test series,” Clarke said.

Clarke needed injections to bat again after a back injury forced him to retire hurt on Tuesday’s first day of the Adelaide Test before resuming the next day to complete a century.

“I’ll wait on the experts’ advice and opinions on what I need to do to get back out on the park,” he said, adding, “I have no regrets about playing this Test match, I have no regrets about going back on the field after I retired hurt.”

Clarke said while he didn’t know how long he would be out of action, putting his chances of playing in February’s World Cup up in the air.

Clarke, 33, said the catalogue of injuries has forced him have a long look at his playing future. “I think with my body, in general, there’s always that risk. This is a different hamstring, I did my left hamstring, I’ve done my right side of my back.

“I’ve got injury concerns at the moment. Now I’ve got to go back and do what the experts tell me to give myself my best chance of being fully fit.

“But I think I have to be honest with myself and have a good hard think about things, definitely.” Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who took over the leadership of the team after Clarke’s exit, is expected to be named captain of the Australia team for the remaining three Tests of the India series, starting with next week’s second Test in Brisbane.

AFP