If Australia win the Ashes, would Clarke retire?

Michael Clarke’s cricketing career has been what you might call a rather successful one.

At a young age Clarke was always destined to play for Australia, making his Sheffield Shield debut for NSW at the age of 18, before becoming the 389th player to wear the famous baggy green. Clarke’s debut was a memorable one, scoring 151 and helping Australia win against a tough Indian side at home.

All ready after his first Test, the critics where comparing him to past greats such as Doug Walters and Mark Waugh.

Australia had found the next big thing; Clarke excelled with the bat and was a handy bowler. He took 6 for 9 off 6.2 overs in his fourth Test.

When Clarke came back to Australia to play his first Test on home soil, he scored an impressive 141 runs against the Kiwis at the Gabba.

Clarke won the Allan Border Medal in 2005 for his outstanding performances in the 2004 calendar year.

Clarke however went through a patch that all batsmen dread; a form slump in the 2005 Ashes meant that he lost his place in the Australian team.

Clarke fought hard in the Australian domestic scene, and after six months out he was selected for the tour of South Africa and the Bangladesh tour. He was then selected for the 2006-2007 Ashes series and scored two centuries and cemented his place in the Test team.

Clarke helped Australia win the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, scoring 436 runs with an average of 87.20.

On the sixth of January 2008, Clarke became a hero with the ball, taking three wickets in the last few overs of the New Years Test against India to win the match for the Australians.

Clarke tied with Ricky Ponting for the 2009 Allan Border medal with 41 points and won Test Cricketer of the year award.

On the 29th of March 2011, Michael was given the highest honour an Australian cricketer could achieve, becoming the captain of the Australian national team.

Clarke thrived under the new captaincy, scoring 626 runs at an average of 125.20, including a staggering 329 not out against the less than impressive touring Indians of 2011-2012 summer.

Partnerships, centuries and wins, just a day in the life of Michael Clarke as Australian captain.

But Clarke unfortunately is also well known for his injuries, especially his back.

Clarke has been playing with a not so great back for most of his career.

His troublesome back problems started as a teenager, he has managed his back well through out his career but the pain has escalated this year.

Clarke (32) has already said that he doesn’t want to be the guy playing cricket in his late thirties. He is playing his 99th Test at the newly renovated Adelaide Oval.

And is a almost certain for the WACA Test, which will be is 100th.

But after that, he hasn’t got much more to prove.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want him to retire, but with his injuries and him having no desire to play until he’s 38, will he retire if Australia wins the Ashes?

Like Justin Langer, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, retiring after an Ashes series win is a great way to end your career.

But if Clarke retires from international cricket, he will leave a massive gap (like what happened when Langer, Mcgrath and Warne all retired at once) that will no doubt undo all the hard work of rebuilding the Australian team.

Also, there is no clear candidate as to who should replace him as captain.

Whatever happens, it is Clarke’s choice if he wants continue, I hope and I think everyone in Australia wants him to continue playing.

But if you have no desire to continue, there is no point in playing on.