'Lynchpin' Clarke confident of managing 'degenerative' back problem ahead of Ashes

Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed his confidence that he will continue to manage his chronic back problem through the upcoming consecutive Ashes series against England.

Clarke has battled a hamstring problem throughout the Australian summer, before his back flared up badly in India in March, forcing him to miss the fourth Test, which, incidentally, remains the only Test where he has been sidelined due to injury in his 92-match career, News.com.au reports.

The report further said that Clarke has the most rigorous eight months of his career coming up, with June's Champions Trophy followed by the Ashes campaigns in England and then Australia.

Although Clarke has not been able to guarantee his health since he was first diagnosed with a degenerative back condition while he was only a teenager, but he said that he is no more vulnerable now than he was before the India tour, adding that he will be ready to play through his problem.

Often touted as the lynchpin of Australia's Ashes hopes, Clarke said that he has managed to play 90-odd Test matches and only missed one through his career, adding that that is the reason behind his need for hard preparation.

According to Clarke, he needs to make sure that he is fit and not carrying too much weight so that he can be completely fit in eight months or 12 months time, adding that he is confident that he will be fit seeing the amount of work he has been doing.

Clarke further said the only difference between his preparation for the Champions Trophy and Ashes compared to past years is that Cricket Australia has been more involved.

The report mentioned that Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris has been monitoring Clarke's rehabilitation program, which included an intensive two-week boot camp on his Berrima property, the report added.