Captain Clarke ‘may never play again’

Australia captain will miss rest of the series against India and fears for his future due to hamstring and back issues.

Clarke had to retire hurt in the first innings before coming back to score a century [Getty Images]

Australia captain Michael Clarke has raised the prospect that his cricket career could be over after injuring his hamstring in the opening Test against India in Adelaide.

Clarke said he intended to keep playing but the latest setback, which the 33-year-old said would force him to miss the remaining three Tests of the series, had caused him to think about his future.

“There’s a chance I may never play again,” he told a news conference at Adelaide Oval. “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 did not finish the match, which ended with Australia securing a thrilling 48-run victory, after he hurt himself on the final day.

He was sent for scans for the second time in a matter of days when he injured himself while fielding in the second session, pulling up sharply after feeling the hamstring go when reaching down to stop a ball.

“The scans are not great, they certainly showed a tear there,” Clarke said. “The experts are looking at them and I can pretty confidently say that I won’t take part in this Test series.”

Clarke has been troubled by hamstring and back issues since he was a teenager but the problem has only worsened in recent months.

Source: Reuters