Australia v India: Injured Australia captain Michael Clarke admits he may never play again
Saturday 13 December 2014 09:52, UK
Australia captain Michael Clarke has admitted he may never play again after injury forced him off the field on the final day of the opening Test victory over India.
Clarke has been suffering from a chronic back problem in recent years and he pulled up with a hamstring injury while fielding in Adelaide.
There's a chance I may never play again.
A subsequent scan confirmed the extent of the problem, with Clarke initially confirming he was unlikely to take any part in the remainder of the current Test series.
But Clarke went on to reveal he may have to retire from cricket as a result of his injury problems.
"There's a chance I may never play again,” he said.
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“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.
“My body in general is always at risk. This is a different hamstring. I (previously) did my left hamstring and I’ve done the right side of my back and my right hamstring.
“Obviously I have got injury concerns at the moment. I have got to go and do what the experts tell me to give myself the best chance of being fully fit.
“I have got to be honest with myself and have a good hard think about things.”
Clarke was speaking after Australia completed a 48-run win over India in the first of their four-match series against India.
The game was the first for the home side since the death of batsman Phillip Hughes, who Clarke felt would have been proud of how his former team-mates performed.
"I'm probably better off not talking about it, I think the world is sick of seeing me cry on television,” added Clarke.
“(It's) a very special win, the boys have played outstanding and I know he (Hughes) would be proud."
Proud
India’s stand-in skipper Virat Kohli was also proud of how his team set about their run chase, with the tourists set 364 from 98 overs.
If we were able to pull this off, today would have been one of the most special moments in my life.
Kohli recorded a Test-best 141 to become only the fourth India player to score centuries in both innings of a Test, while Murali Vijay fell one run short of his hundred on a dramatic final day in South Australia.
"If we were able to pull this off, today would have been one of the most special moments in my life," said Kohli. "But I'm really proud of the way the boys played. No regrets, (that was) my greatest game."
Regular skipper MS Dhoni missed the series opener because of a fractured thumb but he is expected to resume the captaincy for the second Test, which gets underway in Brisbane on Wednesday.
"I would be very happy that he is going to be fit and available for the second Test," added Kohli.
