Clarke to go under knife in bid to overcome hamstring injury

Australia cricket team captain Michael Clarke would reportedly go under the knife on Tuesday in order to overcome a hamstring injury, which has been troubling the skipper time and again.

Clarke said that his career could be over after his latest injury, which he suffered in a win over India in the first Test of their series.

Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said that Clarke had substantial damage to a key part of the hamstring tendon, The BBC reported.

The length of Clarke's absence is unclear ahead of February's World Cup, which would be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Brukner said that the skipper's recovery and the timing of his return to play would be dependent on the surgeon's advice and how well Clarke recovers in the coming weeks.

Cricket Australia has revealed that young batsman Steve Smith would captain Australia for the rest of the Test series against India in Clarke's absence. Smith would become Australia's 45th and third-youngest Test captain when the second Test starts in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who was expected to get the captaincy, has been named as vice-captain, the report added.