The 31-year-old Clarke has had a brilliant
year with the bat, scoring four double centuries and more runs than any other
batsman in test cricket with 1,489 at an average of 106.4.
Clarke looked ashen faced as he left the
Bellerive Oval with team physio Alex Kountouris on Monday evening, however,
despite his 57 helping Australia set the Sri Lankans an imposing 393 for
victory.
While Arthur was convinced Clarke would be
fielding on Tuesday's fifth and final day in Hobart, he thought it a
"distinct possibility" that Shane Watson would be captaining the side
in the second test in Melbourne on Dec. 26.
"He's going off for an MRI scan,"
the South African said. "He's done something to his hamstring and we'll
know the extent of that tomorrow.
"He'll get all the treatment he needs,"
he added. "He'll certainly get that tonight and he'll get that tomorrow
and between breaks... I think you'll have to cut Michael's leg off from him not
to be out there.
"He certainly wants to marshal the
troops and I think he certainly wants to be there if hopefully sometime
tomorrow we can clinch a win."
Arthur also confirmed that fast bowler Ben
Hilfenhaus would miss the Melbourne test after breaking down with a side strain
on Sunday.
"He is certainly not a starter for the
Boxing Day test and we'll see after that," he said.
With a string of other quick bowlers
sidelined through injury, Mitchell Johnson is likely to take Hilfenhaus's place
in Melbourne.
Arthur suggested that former test wicketkeeper
Brad Haddin, Rob Quiney, Usman Khawaja and the uncapped Alex Doolan would be in
the frame if Clarke was not able to play in the second test of the three-match
series in Melbourne.
Sri
Lanka will resume their second innings on 65-2 when the final day's play starts
on Tuesday.
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