Australian all-rounder John Hastings says a mystery illness, which causes him to cough up blood whenever he bowls, could end his cricket career.

The 32-year-old has played one Test, 29 ODIs, and nine T20Is for Australia, and was due to participate in the Big Bash League for the Sydney Sixers this season, but says the condition is worsening.

“Every time I’m bowling now it’s happening,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“It’s literally just bowling. It’s not running. I can do boxing, weight sessions, rowing, anything like that.

“But as soon as the pressure (of bowling) at the crease at match intensity, when I step it up, literally I burst blood vessels in my lungs and I walk back to my mark and cough up some blood.”

Hastings says that the issue first cropped up several years ago, and multiple tests and operations have not been able to reveal why this happens only when he bowls.

“It’s pretty scary, but they can’t tell for sure it’s not going to cause long-term damage. There’s a lot of grey area surrounding it,” he added.

Hastings was hoping to continue his career, especially in lucrative Twenty20 circuit, but says that’s unlikely to happen.

“I’ve played this game my whole life and I wanted to keep playing it,” he said.

“I wanted to play tournaments all around the world. That’s one of the reasons I retired early from one-day and four-day cricket.

“To see it maybe slipping away, it’s pretty tough to take and at this stage, unless something miraculous happens, I won’t be able to bowl.”