"I had my first scan at 17 that said I had degeneration in my disc. I've been able to manage it this long": Michael Clarke. Photo: AP
Michael Clarke says the chronic back troubles that have plagued him nearly half his life will not cut short his international career.
As Australia's other leadership conundrum dragged into Thursday afternoon, the Test captain said he could continue to manage the degenerative discs in his lower back, which were diagnosed at the age of 17.
Clarke, 31, was due to attend training at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in central Delhi on Thursday but vice-captain Shane Watson was already being readied to take over temporarily for Friday's fourth Test against India.
The recurrence of Clarke's injury, suffered in a warm-up during the third Test in Mohali, not only left him in extreme doubt of missing the final match of the series, but raised questions about his long-term future.
Clarke, however, said the back problems would not force him to quit the game earlier than he would like, or prompt him to have surgery.
"No I don't think so, it won't have any impact," he said. "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.
"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."
Clarke received intensive treatment from team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris after the latest bout of pain on Sunday. He played with painkillers for the rest of the match, won by India by six wickets to seal a 3-0 series lead. He had to retreat from the field and hand the leadership over to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
"It's a combination of things," Clarke said. "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 way 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. I'm very grateful for the people around, especially Alex Kountouris and my physio when I'm back in Sydney, to keep me on the park consistently."
The Border-Gavaskar series has already been surrendered, so the only thing that can be gained in Delhi is pride.
Clarke came close to missing the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring strain, before passing a late fitness test, but has looked unlikely to recover this time.
"I don't know if it's as bad as it's been. It's not a nice feeling," he said. "It was very uncomfortable and it impacted my performance [in Mohali], in regards to not the number of runs I made but the movement.
"I felt I couldn't move down the wicket because I was so restricted and I'd hate to see what the fielding side of it looked like. For me as a batsman, if I can't walk out there and make a hundred because this is going to restrict me doing that, then I don't think it's fair on the team to take the field.
"It's slowly improving. If you ask Alex or the team doctor they might have a different impression but, hopefully, a good day today, plenty of treatment, and I wake up in the morning, feel magnificent and I walk out and play another Test match for Australia."
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