Michael Clarke in danger of missing World Cup if complete Test series with back injury

MICHAEL Clarke’s playing future is under review with a leading sports doctor saying the skipper needs to play less cricket to prolong his career.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 10: Michael Clarke of Australia squats in the nets to test out his injury before day two of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 10, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

MICHAEL Clarke’s playing future is under serious review with a leading sports doctor saying the skipper would be forced to play less cricket to prolong his career.

As Clarke celebrated a courageous century at Adelaide Oval, the Australian captain was said to be in danger of jeopardising his World Cup campaign if he was to play the remaining three Tests against India.

DAY TWO: SMITH, CLARKE BELT TAME INDIAN ATTACK

WHY THIS IS PUP’S CAREER-DEFINING TON

CRICKET CONFIDENTIAL: ‘MICHAEL, GET READY FOR BODYLINE’

COMMENT: CLARKE MUST BE SAVED FROM HIMSELF

Cricket chiefs are under mounting pressure to rest Clarke, potentially for the rest of the series.

Medical opinion suggests the strain of nursing twin back and hamstring injuries through three tightly-packed matches could rob Clarke of his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to captain in February’s home World Cup.

Clarke suffered a serious back injury on day one in Adelaide, an old disc related problem that last year ruled him out of the month-long Champions Trophy tournament in England.

Team physio Alex Kountouris admitted before play that Clarke was struggling.

“Unfortunately it’s quite a significant back injury,” he said.

“He hasn’t had anything like this in 18 months. It’s poor timing and he’s struggling at the moment.”

Sports medico Dr Peter Larkins, who has previously been consulted on Clarke’s back condition, said the 33-year-old’s condition was getting worse.

“Age is against him and he’s aware of that so this is likely to be a more frequently occurring problem in the next year or two and ultimately it will limit his cricket capacity,” Larkins said.

“Whether his career is shortened by it, I suspect it would.

“I don’t think it will be imminent (the end) but I do think it’s having an impact on him because of the frequency over the last two years — he’s had regular setbacks.

“Because it’s a wear-degeneration condition, the wear process can only get more advanced as he plays more cricket.

“I’m not writing Michael off — we all want him to play the whole summer, but I think Michael Clarke will manage his cricket loads over the next couple of years and play a lot less days of cricket.”

Australian medical staff will try and nurse Clarke through the rest of the Test and are unlikely to rule him out of the second Test in Brisbane at the Gabba at this early stage.

Clarke is proud of having never missed a Test through injury on home soil, but his mate Shane Warne outlined in commentary a valid reason why he may now need to take a rest.

“How frustrating it must be for Michael Clarke,” Warne said.

“He works so hard on his back and for him to be out there and have a full, wide delivery where he can’t play the big cover drive he wants to because he’s restricted.”

When Clarke injured his back upon arriving in the UK on June 1 last year, he abandoned the Champions Trophy camp immediately and headed to London where he could use the state-of-the-art spinal machine he’s so familiar with in Sydney.

It’s likely he’ll have a similar rehabilitation plan in Sydney with the latest setback.

The good news is Clarke managed to get through an entire Ashes series last year after the Champions Trophy dramas, but the World Cup promises a taxing schedule.

If Australia make the final they will have played nine matches, and selectors in any case may have to consider resting Clarke from minor fixtures.

Australia will be required to fly seven hours from Auckland to Perth at one point. AFL players with hamstring problems are often rested for trips from the east coast to Perth.

Despite batting his way to a record-breaking seventh century in Adelaide, Clarke’s chances of playing in Brisbane would appear remote.

Cricket Australia must now go back to the long-term plan for his recovery mapped out by team performance manager Pat Howard which prioritised the World Cup and Ashes.

Larkins said Clarke’s decision to bravely resume his innings yesterday wouldn’t aggravate the disc injury any further.

Originally published as Michael Clarke in danger of missing World Cup if complete Test series with back injury