Michael Clarke, professional Australian cricket player and captain of the Australian cricket team, has just suffered a lower back injury. It forced him to retire hurt before tea on the opening day of the first test against India in Adelaide last Tuesday.

The injury has put into question Clarke's participation in the three remaining matches of the series, as well as his ability to lead Australia into the 50-over World Cup early next year.

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The 33-year old cricket player returned to play after coming through a fitness test on a third hamstring strain within three months. These are problems that are also related to his long-term degenerative back injury.

Clarke had hurt his lower back when he was batting at the Adelaide Oval and that it was causing him "considerable pain," said a Cricket Australia spokeswoman.

Afterwards, he had left the ground for treatment and another update from the team after play said that he received some injections. He would be reassessed again later on.

He had made a 60 not out when he twisted away to avoid a short ball coming from Ishant Sharma. While he tried to stretch out his back with the medical staff and return to the game, but he trudged off minutes later with Australia on 206-2.

This was the only game that Clarke had missed in one of Australia's 40 tests since he assumed the captaincy of the team in 2011. However, he may receive some flak for placing sentiment ahead of his team's interests by playing in Adelaide.

For the past two weeks, Clarke was spending most of his time leading his team and the nation in mourning for his friend and former teammate Phillip Hughes who died after being struck by a ball on the back of the head.

Hughes' memory was being commemorated throughout the match at the Adelaide Oval. 

TagsMichael Clarke, back injury