Michael Clarke is still in the frame for the first Test against India, although a back injury is complicating treatment of his troublesome hamstring.

Cricket Australia physio Alex Kountouris says Clarke re-aggravated the same hamstring he hurt in Zimbabwe, but could still be fit for the first Test starting December 4.

“He’s got a sore back, an aggravation of his back, and the two are tied together which makes it quite complex,” Kountouris said.

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“It’s not that dramatic where he’s going to miss the whole summer.”

Kountouris said Clarke was “still hopeful for the first Test”.

He was asked how long Clarke would be out of action with the latest injury suffered during last weekend’s opening ODI against South Africa in Perth a week ago.

“I can’t put a figure on it right now,” he said.

“As he is right now, he hasn’t started running, he hasn’t started doing any of the functional things that we want him to do. He’s not able to bat.

“So he’s not ready to play at the moment.

“His next game of cricket is a grade game on the weekend and he’s not available for that.

“There’s a shield game starting next Tuesday and he’s not available for that. That’s as far as we’re looking.

“He’s need to start running and start doing things before we make a decision on whether he’s OK to play.”

With AAP