Sydney: Australia captain Michael Clarke was Tuesday ruled out of next month’s one-day series against Pakistan with a “significant” hamstring injury that is worse than first thought.

The 33-year-old, who has a catalogue of back and hamstring trouble, was forced to retire hurt in a one-dayer against Zimbabwe in Harare on August 31 and returned home from the tour early.

Scans have since revealed tendon damage in the affected area and he will have to sit out the team’s final one-day tour before hosting the World Cup next year, Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.

“Since returning to Australia, Michael has had a series of investigations that have confirmed a significant hamstring injury,” Kountouris said in a statement.

“Importantly, the scans have demonstrated tendon damage — which complicates the recovery from this injury.

“As such, he will not recover in time to be available for the ODI series in the United Arab Emirates.

“We hope he will be available for the Test series, but this will be determined at a date closer to the first Test.”

The three-game one-day series against Pakistan starts on October 7 with the first of two Tests not until October 22.

On his early return to Australia from Zimbabwe, Clarke was adamant that his ongoing hamstring and back problems would not result in a premature end to his one-day career.

“It’s hard for me to look any further down the track than where I am today but I love the game as much as I ever have and the last thing I am thinking about is retiring,” he said then.

Pakistan have been forced to play their home series at neutral venues, such as the UAE, since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

Australia, meanwhile, has built an artificial pitch at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane to help its batsmen deal with spin-bowling on the slow tracks of the subcontinent, where they have so often struggled in the past.

The surface, which is intended to mimic the conditions in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has a concrete base with artificial grass, clay and turf rolled into a compact layer on top.

“The artificial base and the bounce is a lot different to what we get in Australia,” Cricket Australia’s high performance manager Pat Howard told Brisbane’s Courier Mail on Tuesday.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction. Batsmen can practise on a pitch that will play very differently to what we can expect in Australia.

“It’s a start. At no stage am I going to suggest it’s the finished article but I think it will provide a good, solid base to try something different.” Australia’s problems with spin bowling are widely considered to have contributed to the humiliating 4-0 series sweep they suffered in India last year.

The first players will get a chance to bat and bowl on it this week as Australia prepare for a trip to the United Arab Emirates to take on Pakistan in two tests, three one-day matches and a Twenty20 starting next month.