Michael Clarke insists he won't pull the pin on his Test career any time soon. Picture: Matthew Horwood. Source: Matthew Horwood / News Limited
MICHAEL Clarke insists that a dodgy back and dreadful losing streak will not force him from the game.
The Australian captain has rejected suggestions he may retire at the end of the return series against England next summer, particularly if his body and Australia's performances do not improve.
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"I'm 32 and not 36 so luckily I've got a few years before I have that discussion," Clarke said after training at Old Trafford ahead of the third Test, which begins on Thursday.
The Australians are facing an ugly record. Already with six successive defeats behind them, they want to avoid equalling the greatest losing streak in the country's history, seven consecutive losses from 1885-1888.
"I'm like every other player, you get frustrated that you don't make as many runs as you would like and get frustrated that the team's not having success but that only makes the challenge more exciting," Clarke said.
"I want to help this team have success. I want to make sure I'm leading the way and scoring runs.
"I'm not ready to walk away from cricket. I love the game as much now as I ever have that's for sure. I have no intention to walk away from this game right now.
"I'm in it to achieve all I can as captain of this team and as a player. I feel like my game still has a lot of improvement left in it.
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"As a captain you probably take it more personally when the team doesn't have as much success as you would like, which probably just makes me work harder."
Clarke says he tries not to think about the losing streak, Australia's worst since 1984, when the team lost six on the trot to the then mighty West Indies.
"Losing six Test matches in a row we're not proud of. We definitely don't train for that," he said.
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However Clarke won't be discussing this dismal run with the team.
"That record is irrelevant," he said. "Unfortunately, or fortunately, records are made to be broken. This is one we don't want to break.
"I was part of the team that won 16 in a row, so I guess I'm seeing both sides. But it doesn't put any extra pressure on you as a player.
"The reality is you want to win every time you walk out on to the field. But you have to perform at your best to do that.
"If we don't and we lose this Test match, we'll hold a record that I certainly won't be proud of and I don't think anyone in the current team will be proud of."
Clarke is the only player to score a century during that period while nine have been made against Australia.
"I don't know the answer," he said. "To make big runs you've got to bat plenty of time. You've got to find a way to get through the tough periods and that's what we haven't been able to do.
"When England have bowled well, they've managed to get not just the one wicket but they've got two or three quite quickly and that has put us under the pump."
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