Nathan Lyon, left, and Michael Clarke of Australia after claiming victory in the First Test against India at Adelaide Oval. Source: Getty Images

Michael Clarke speaks with match star Nathan Lyon after the win. Source: AFP

Michael Clarke of Australia and Virat Kohli of India shake hands after day five. Source: Getty Images

It was a bittersweet moment for Clarke at the Adelaide Oval today as Australia battled back magnificently in the last session to score a stunning 48-run victory over India in what he described as “the most important Test” of his career.

But the sad reality was that he watched the drama unfold from the Australian dressing room after tearing his right hamstring in a fielding mishap.

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With the death of his “little brother” Phillip Hughes ever-present in his mind, Clarke insisted he would have played this Test — in his honour — even if he had known in advance he might suffer a serious injury. That he was able to will his failing body to hold together long enough for him to score a vital first-innings century only made the victory more poignant.

“It’s obviously very special,” Clarke told a post-match press conference.

“Every Test match you play for Australia you have a lot to play for but obviously this series is even closer to our hearts and this Test match is one that we will remember and cherish for the rest of our careers.

“There’s no question about that so I’m extremely pleased with the way the boys have gone about it.”

But now comes the reckoning for him. Scans have revealed a tear in his right hamstring that will keep him out of the remaining three Tests in this Border-Gavaskar series against India and quite possibly the one-day World Cup as well.

But the inescapable reality is that Clarke’s body is deteriorating at such an alarming rate that he now is facing up to the fact that there might be no coming back from this latest setback.

“There’s a chance I could never play again,” he said. “I certainly hope that is not the case. I will be doing everything in my power to get back out onto the park but I think I’ve got to be realistic as well.

“I think (with) my body in general, there’s always that risk. This is a different hamstring, I did my left hamstring, I did the right side of my back, I’ve just done my right hammy. I think obviously I’ve got injury concerns at the moment. Now I’ve got to go back and do what the experts tell me and give myself my best chance of being fully fit.

“But I’ve got to be honest with myself and have a good hard think about things, definitely.”

The caravan now moves on and by the time the Australian team arrives in Brisbane on Monday, Shaun Marsh will be there waiting for it, having flown over from Western Australia today to take Clarke’s place in the Gabba Test starting on Wednesday.

The national selectors also have brought left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc in to supplement the squad, a sensible precaution given Peter Siddle was unwell during the Adelaide Test and struggled to make any impression.

The condition of Ryan Harris, too, will surely be closely monitored. Playing in his first Test since undergoing off-season knee surgery, the veteran paceman bowled 40 overs in the match, a far heavier workload that the selectors would have wanted.

Although he finished with the unflattering match figures of 2-104, he bowled impressively throughout and the selectors surely will give him every chance to back up in the Second Test, especially on his home track at the Gabba.

But the undoubted hero of the moment was off-spinner Nathan Lyon who finished the Adelaide Test with 12 wickets, a career-best haul. More importantly, he stood tall and shrugged the monkey off his back by proving he could bowl Australia to victory in the fourth innings of a Test.

Not that his teammates had any doubts on that score, Clarke insisted. “I hope that does his confidence the world of good because everyone around him believes he can do that,” Clarke said.

“Now this confirms to him that he’s a matchwinner. Anyone who has the skill to take wickets in the first innings of a Test match can certainly do it in the second and he deserves a lot of credit.”