Tuesday 16 September 2014 13:20, UK
Australia captain Michael Clarke will miss the upcoming one-day series against Pakistan due to a hamstring injury.
The 33-year-old batsman was forced to pull out midway through the recent tri-series in Zimbabwe and Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris has revealed the problem is more more serious than first hoped.
Clarke will now sit out the three matches against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, the first of which takes place on October 7, but could yet be fit for the two Tests that follow later in the same month.
"Since returning to Australia, Michael has had a series of investigations that have confirmed a significant hamstring injury," Kountouris said.
"Importantly, the scans have demonstrated tendon damage - which complicates the recovery from this injury.
"As such, he will not recover in time to be available for the ODI series in the UAE.
"We hope he will be available for the Test series, but this will be determined at a date closer to the first Test."
The first Test between Pakistan and Australia gets underway on October 22 in Dubai, with the second game then being held in Abu Dhabi the following week.
