Michael Clarke could be on ice until Ashes

MICHAEL Clarke is racing against the clock to play any part in the Champions Trophy, with the latest flare-up in his back yet to settle.

Michael Clarke

MICHAEL Clarke is racing against the clock to play any part in Australia's Champions Trophy campaign, with the latest flare-up in his back yet to settle.

The Australia captain won't play in tomorrow’s tournament opener against England in Birmingham, although he hasn't been officially ruled out.

Clarke was still in London being treated by a specialist overnight and, with an Ashes series fast approaching, team physio Alex Kountouris confirmed there would be no risk-taking with the team's linchpin.

The compact nature of the Champions Trophy will have Australia's three pool games wrapped up by Monday week, giving Clarke little time to return to the full-intensity training required for a return.

“Unfortunately he's had this plenty of times so we know where he needs to be,” said Kountouris.

“First he needs to be pain free, which he's not at the moment ... he's been struggling with it.

“So we're trying to get to that stage and then go through a series of tests, get him running, get him batting, get him doing things that he would normally do.

“But being such a short tournament we're racing against time.”

Kountouris doesn't believe the aggravation is as bad as when Clarke was ruled out of the fourth Test against India in March.

However, it's still too early to really know the severity.

And any unknown means no play for Clarke.

“You get these improvements in the first couple of days and then it plateaus and then it improves again.

“So we're looking at it day by day at the moment.

“This is an important tournament as well ... but it's a really important time of the year for us, that goes without saying. We're not going to take any stupid risks.”

AAP