Clarke forced to receive daily treatment on his back to be fit

Melbourne, Nov 19 (ANI): Australian vice captain Michael Clarke is being forced to receive daily treatment on his troublesome back to be ready in time for next week's opening Test against the West Indies at Gabba.

The Australian vice-captain scored 106 for NSW in just under four hours in the Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania at the SCG.

Clarke said his body had responded well after he was forced to sit out almost two months of action because of his recurring back problems.

"Not bad actually I thought I would be stiffer than I was. I think I was the sorest after the one-day game and not just my back but general body stiffness and I pulled up pretty well," Fox Sports quoted Clarke, as ssaying.

"Again I am having treatment every morning and I have been seeing the same physio for the last couple of weeks. So I have just got to get that regular treatment. Obviously tomorrow is pretty important, spending 50 overs in the field today and back up tomorrow, so I will see how I pull up tomorrow after the game," he said.

"But I am more confident now of being able to bat for that amount of time and waking up feeling pretty good is a positive for me," Clarke said.

He said he wasn't prepared to play in Brisbane if he wasn't match fit next week.

"I would not play if I couldn't. For me it is about being 100 per cent, I need to be able to give the team 100 per cent because if I can't there is certainly someone else there that can and will perform better than me.

"So I would not dare go into a Test match not knowing if I could give 100 per cent," Clarke added.

Clarke said the knock had given him confidence of being able to perform at his best in the Test starting Thursday week. (ANI)