Michael Clarke, the veteran of 87 Test matches and former Australian captain, has announced his retirement from international cricket following Australia's loss to England in the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. The fifth and final Test of the current Ashes series, to be held at The Oval, will be his last.
Clarke, 34, confirmed his decision after Australia's defeat, which handed England an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. He told former teammate Shane Warne that "the time was right". The announcement, made on August 8, 2015, marks the end of a career that saw Clarke become one of Australia's leading Test run-scorers and the country's 43rd Test captain.
Clarke has been under increasing pressure due to his poor performance with the bat during the Ashes series. He failed to reach 50 in any of his eight innings and averaged just 16.71. Clarke acknowledged his own shortcomings, stating that his performances "have been nowhere near the level and the standard they need to be an Australian cricketer and to be captain". He added, "As a team we haven't performed as well as we needed to beat England, and as captain I certainly haven't led from the front".
The decision to retire was made in his hotel room after the second day's play in Nottingham. This followed a disastrous first day where Australia were all out for 60. Despite previously denying that he was considering retirement, Clarke changed his mind, stating that "it's the right time".
Clarke made his Test debut in 2004 against India in Bengaluru. Throughout his career, he has battled with back and ankle problems, which required surgery earlier in the year. He had already retired from ODI cricket after leading Australia to victory in the 2015 World Cup and quit Twenty20 cricket in 2010.
Despite his struggles, Clarke expressed his passion for the game. He stated that he trained as hard and often as he had throughout his captaincy and was certain that his form would improve. However, he also conceded that his future was in the hands of the national selection panel.
Following the announcement, tributes poured in for Clarke. England skipper Alastair Cook acknowledged Clarke as a "great cricketer and a fantastic captain". Clarke, reflecting on his career, mentioned that he might consider TV commentary after his retirement.
