Oz skipper Michael Clarke suffers hamstring injury

Australian skipper Michael Clarke has suffered yet another hamstring injury, throwing Australia's summer of cricket into disarray.

The embattled skipper lasted just 20 balls out in the middle before being dismissed by nemesis Dale Steyn for a personal score of 11.

Cricket Australia, according to news.com.au, has confirmed fresh damage to the left hamstring which floored Clarke, 33, earlier this year.

Clarke originally suffered the damage during the ODI tour of Zimbabwe and was sent home.

He was then forced to miss the one-day component of the Pakistan series in the UAE as he raced the clock to recover from the injury.

The fact that Clarke barely lasted an innings in the opener to the Australian summer is a major concern looking ahead to the Test series against India starting on December 4.

Clarke's inability to shake the injury which is a byproduct of his chronic back problems, is a major concern looking ahead to the World Cup.

Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said Clarke would require scans but it appears unlikely he'll play a further part in this ODI series against South Africa.