The Aussie captain has admitted he is no certainty to return and has ruled himself out for the rest of the summer. Cricket lover Michael "Speedy" Stratton and The Area News sports editor Andrew Piva contemplate the ramifications of Clarke's latest fitness setback.

Andrew: I'm getting a sense of deja vu, Speedy.

Speedy: Couple of beers will sort that out, mate. Best cure for memory retention in the world.

Andrew: I'll take your word for that. But it was only a couple of weeks ago that we were talking about Michael Clarke and how long his dodgy back would let him play for, wasn't it?

Speedy: That's true. It was. And as I said before, he shouldn't have played in those one-day games against South Africa last month.

Andrew: In hindsight, he shouldn't of, and it was clear he wasn't fit to play in the first Test against India, but there was no way of stopping him. Given his close relationship with Phillip Hughes, Clarke was always going to take part. And look, he scored a century, so it's hard to be too critical.

Speedy: I've got to say, Clarke's won me over this past month.

Andrew: Did he buy you a coldie or something?

Speedy: No. Though, I wouldn't say no if he offered. I reckon he's got a bit of loose change. But the last few weeks he's really shown what a great leader he is. He's a fighter as well. He's not done with yet. He'll come back from this injury and lead us to England next year so we can defend the Ashes.

Andrew: What about the World Cup in Australia?

Speedy: Bugger the World Cup.

Andrew: Bugger the World Cup?

Speedy: You turning into a parrot? That's what I said. I'd give Clarke a nice, long rest. He's a great one-day batsman, but we've got other blokes who can fill in. It's not vital to have him in the one-dayers, but we do need him in the Tests.

Andrew: I agree. We can cover his absence in the one-day arena. But with the World Cup being staged in Australia, I don't think Clarke would be too happy about being left on the sideline.

Speedy: Maybe, but the Ashes are what cricket is all about. Leave Clarke out and throw in some young blokes at the World Cup and blood them for the tour of England. That's the way to go.

Andrew: Again with the young blokes. Who are these young blokes you keep talking about? Does Cricket Australia have them in a paddock down Hillston way or something?

Speedy: They're out there. It just takes a good eye to spot them, like I've got.

Andrew: Well, all I know for sure is that there's no cricketer out there at the moment like Dave Warner. AB de Villiers might have something to say about it, but I reckon Warner's the best batsman in the world. Those twin hundreds he scored in Adelaide confirmed it for me.

Speedy: He's going good. I remember watching Geoff Boycott open for England about 40-odd years ago. He'd bat for three days and make about 10 runs. Warner's the type of bloke who could score a century in a session.

Andrew: He could. There's no batsman I enjoy seeing more at the moment.

Speedy: He reminds me of me in my younger days.

Andrew: Were you a dasher as well?

Speedy: Well, I'd say I was dashing -  at least that's what the ladies always reckoned.