Back problem threatens Michael Clarke's career again

The latest recurrence of Michael Clarke's back spasm has raised questions about his long-term future but the Aussie captain insisted that the chronic back troubles, which have plagued him for nearly half his life, will not force him to cut short his international career.

Clarke, ruled out of the ongoing fourth and final Test here due to back spasm, said that he will not let the injury make him quit the game earlier than he would prefer.

"It won't have any impact, it hasn't had any impact in regards to my Test cricket at this stage. I don't think it will play any role at all," said Clarke.

"Right now, I've been able to manage it for - what am I now, 31? I had my first scan at 17 that said I had degeneration in my disc. I've been able to manage it this long, I don't see any reason why I can't continue to manage it for the rest of my career," he added.

Clarke had suffered back spasm during a fielding drill in the third Test against India at Mohali, but the skipper expressed confidence that he could manage the degenerative discs in his lower back as he had done it throughout his career.

"It's a combination of things, my back gets irritated when I'm in flexion and I rotate, so I hurt it the other day doing fielding, sprinting for a ball, picking it up one day

and throwing it off balance, which is exactly the opposite to what my back likes.

"But I've done that a number of times throughout my career in regards to every time I field. Sometimes with degeneration of the disc, it can flare up, but I will manage it as well as I can," Clarke was quoted as saying by 'Sydney Morning Herald'. (

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