Australian captain Michael Clarke is set to miss the rest of the one-day tri-series in Zimbabwe and could be in doubt for the upcoming Test tour against Pakistan after aggravating his hamstring injury.
Clarke pulled up in pain attempting a single in his innings of 68 not out against Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday as he helped Australia limp to a total of 9-209.
Before leaving the field for treatment with Australia 5-147, Clarke could barely run between the wickets.
Clarke did return for the final two balls of the innings, but didn’t face a delivery and he was forced to walk the last single scored by No.11 Nathan Lyon.
The skipper had declared he was 100 per cent fit to return after missing the first two matches of the tri-series due to the tightness in his left hamstring he suffered just two days after arriving in Harare.
However, he did admit in a pre-match press conference that he could feel the hamstring when batting – but that it wasn’t restrictive.
Now, Clarke and Australia face a nervous wait to determine the extent of the damage.
Even a low-grade hamstring tear is at least three weeks on the sidelines, and the tour game which precedes Australia’s two Tests against Pakistan in the UAE starts on October 15.
It doesn’t give the injury-prone Clarke much time to recover and get his movement back to 100 per cent.
Clarke’s sterling knock against Zimbabwe was a case in point of how important he is to Australia’s batting – and that is only magnified in the Test arena.
Back in March, the last time Clarke took the field, he batted through a fractured shoulder to score a fighting century which set up Australia’s epic Test series win in Cape Town.
Repeated injury concerns for Australia’s best player is a significant concern heading into a packed 12 month schedule of cricket which features a World Cup and an Ashes series next winter in the UK.
Cricket Australia confirmed Clarke had reaggravated his hamstring.
jammel
Guest
I agree - Clarke should step down from ODIs, immediately post the WC.
Al
Guest
Agreed time to get rid of Hughes, he just cannot handle spin and I am confident boof will make the right changes as he is a legend coach
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Never, ever rush a hamstring injury. I've limped off footy fields too many times having done just that stupid thing.
Maggie
Guest
You seem to have forgotten that Clarke is not a selector.
Ash
Guest
Clarke should retire as captain for ODI after the world cup finishes, as for other changes get Hughes out as he is a sitting duck whenever spin comes on, i feel i can get hiim with my offies and I only play grade cricket as a spinning allrounder. As for Clarke Our most valuable Test asset should only be playing Tests anyway and he needs to stop picking his little mate in Hughes.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
A stupid decision to send him. And for what? An inconsequential ODI tournament.
JGK
Roar Guru
Madness.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I just don't see why they risked him there. It means little. Clarke doesn't need to audition for a WC place in the squad. Clearly they knew there could be an issue. Any decent physio will know whether the hammie is fully healed. It wasn't, so he should never have played.
Johnnyball
Guest
Good, get him to drop himself!
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Predictable. I wondered if they had rushed him back in a panic. It didn't help anyway!
GD66
Guest
Grrrrrr !! WHEN will they learn...?