Michael Clark forced to retire

Michael Clark: 'It's been a tough call to make' © Getty Images

Michael Clark, the 27-year-old West Australian fast bowler, has announced his retirement from first-class cricket. He has been plagued by a series of back injuries and was not offered a full-time contract for the current season, so was forced to combine his cricket with a job in a car dealership .

"It's been a tough call to make," he said. "But I have to consider what's best for my family and it's just become too much to try and hold down my job and put in the amount of time and effort that's required to train with the Warriors. That said I've lived every young kid's dream of playing footy and cricket at a high level and I wouldn't trade that for anything."

Clark made his debut for WA in 2001-02 but was limited to 17 appearances, the last in November, in which he took 49 wickets at 28.71.