I may never play for Australia again: Michael Clarke

[bulldogtragic]

Full story here:

http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/michael-clarke-admits-he-may-never-play-for-australia-again-after-suffering-another-hamstring-injury/story-fndpt0dy-1227154883327

[Twodogs]

Re: I may never play for Australia again: Michael Clarke

It'd be a huge shame if Clarke's career ended there as I really rate his captaincy and leadership of the group. With such a demanding schedule coming up if this is true then we will miss him during the World Cup, Ashes tour et al.

[lemmon]

Re: I may never play for Australia again: Michael Clarke

Surely the best option is to now send him home for 6 months and get him in the best shape possible for the Ashes? It would have been nice to end a stellar one day career with a World Cup but it's just not to be unfortunately. I thing surprisingly we can cover his batting, we still need his leadership though, this week has proven how much this group still needs him.

[GVGjr]

Re: I may never play for Australia again: Michael Clarke

I agree he needs a long break. The Ashes should be his focus not the World Cup.

[LostDoggy]

Re: I may never play for Australia again: Michael Clarke

I agree he needs a long break. The Ashes should be his focus not the World Cup.

He has 3 degenerative disks in his back, in 6 months it will be worse not better. I would say he is cooked. Would be a massive shame but one has to be pragmatic about things like this.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: I may never play for Australia again: Michael Clarke

I suspect he will announce his retirement.

Big loss for Australian cricket, been a great player for a long time, as well as being an important leader during a real transition period in Australian cricket.

[KT31]

Re: I may never play for Australia again: Michael Clarke

I suspect he will announce his retirement.

Big loss for Australian cricket, been a great player for a long time, as well as being an important leader during a real transition period in Australian cricket.

Keen to try for next years Ashes, very slight to no chance to make it.

[Twodogs]

Re: I may never play for Australia again: Michael Clarke

After watching Smith handle the captaincy during the second test how do you guys feel he handled it? For mine he was pretty good. Kept the bowling turning over more than Clarke I thought, less long spells. Field placings were good he kept the pressure up with lots of close in catching positions and more conservative fields when he needed to.
It is looking more and more likely that Smith may lead the Ashes tour. That's a significant disadvantage to us because we have the guy who has momentum over any captain they put up against him.

Still if anyone can overcome this injury and make the tour it's Clarke.

[SlimPickens]

Re: I may never play for Australia again: Michael Clarke

He has 3 degenerative disks in his back, in 6 months it will be worse not better. I would say he is cooked. Would be a massive shame but one has to be pragmatic about things like this.

To be honest this is plan wrong. Putting this ("degenerative")label on anyone from an early age could potentially cause endless amounts of harm. Studies show that 20% of people under 40 and 35-75% of people over 40 have disc injuries on radiological scans but are asymptomatic. Likewise, discs injuries mostly heal and pain ceases in 6-12 weeks. Many studies have shown that often the place that suffers the injury (or is ‘not activating’ or ‘not strong enough’) is not the area of dysfunction; it is taking the hit for another part of the system not working properly.

Michael Clarkes issues isn't his body, it's the incompetent manor in which he has been rehabilitated. Watching the footage of him using the medX rehab machine is one of the most embarrassing things I've ever seen. The so called experts at cricket Australia should hang their heads in shame at the way they have handled clarkey and his rehab.