The Ashes 2010: Australia worried by new Michael Clarke back injury

The Australia vice-captain, Michael Clarke, is a fresh injury doubt for the Ashes opener in Brisbane on 25 November after a back problem flared up while playing for his state side New South Wales. Australia are set to name their Ashes squad later today but Clarke, who scored a century on day three of the Sheffield Shield game with Victoria at the SCG, has been troubled by back soreness since day one when he played down the severity of the injury, saying he would spend time receiving physiotherapy. However, after sitting out the remainder of Victoria's second innings – which they declared at 275-8 to set New South Wales 391 runs to win – Clarke was in obvious pain when he finally came to the crease down the order at No8. Clarke grimaced after playing shots and ambled gingerly between the wickets but in a gritty display reached 39 not out and, together with Brad Haddin, who hit an unbeaten 61, helped save the match for the home side. The New South Wales captain, Stuart Clark, told the Melbourne Age: "He's sore from batting in the first innings for a long period of time after, as I was just joking with him, not getting many in India or batting that long. I think it's just stiffness from batting and being hunched over for long periods of time. "He was always going to bat today. It was just a matter of, if we were two or three down, then he wouldn't have been required. In the end we got to a stage where he needed to bat so he went out and did it.'' Clark said he anticipated his team-mate to be available for the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania, starting on Wednesday at the SCG. "The selectors will meet and obviously the physio will reassess Michael over the next couple of days,'' he said. "But at this stage I'd assume he's playing."