Adelaide: The Australian cricket team was on Saturday dealt a massive injury blow when skipper Michael Clarke all but ruled himself out of the remaining Test series against India after limping off the field with a hamstring strain on the final day of the opening match here.
“I had a scan, the results are not fantastic and I am going to struggle to take any more part in the series,” Clarke said in the presentation ceremony after Australia won the thrilling match by 48 runs today.
“I am probably better of not talking about it, the world is probably sick of seeing me crying on television,” joked the 33-year-old, referring to his public breakdowns since the tragic death of close friend and teammate Phillip Hughes late last month.
Clarke, who is also battling back spasms, went down in the 44th over of India’s second innings clutching his right hamstring. He was taken to hospital for scans after that and was seen walking with a limp even after coming back to the ground.
The right-hander proved to be an exemplary leader in the just-concluded match at a time when the team had been left shattered by the death of Hughes, who lost his life after being hit by a bouncer in a domestic match.
Clarke battled through back pain to score a hundred in the first innings but his body had been struggling to hold up after that. (PTI)