Clarke set to move to No.4 batting spot for Ashes

Australian captain Michael Clarke is reportedly set to move himself to the No.4 spot in the batting order after batting at second drop in his three innings so far on tour, during the Ashes.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Clarke, who made 45 and 26 against Somerset in Taunton and was run out for 62 in the first innings against Worcestershire on Tuesday, may make the move permanent against England in the first Test starting next week at Trent Bridge.

Although the report said that it was logical for Clarke to make the move as the premier batsman in the team, however, it added that in Tests he averages just 22 at No.4 and 63.9 in his more accustomed position at No.5 and had made a first ball duck when he promoted himself to No.3 for the third Test in Mohali in March out of necessity.

However, the report suggested that the skipper's decision to bat higher than No.5 is to help balance a batting line-up plagued by uncertainty and dominated by left-handers.

Stating that he does not know about where Clarke would bat at Trent Bridge, former vice-captain Shane Watson, who has been restored to opening with great success, said that Clarke had batted at No.4 spot in the last game as well.

Watson, who made 109 against Worcestershire on Tuesday, further said that they will all fit into whatever spot the captain and the coach wants to get the best out of them as a batting group.

Meanwhile, the report said that Clarke's reason for stepping down as a selector was to focus more on his captaincy, with new coach Darren Lehmann stating that his role was to take pressure off Clarke and allow him to focus on leading the team.

According to Lehmann, it is necessary for him to make sure that Clarke gets back to captaining and playing the game and not worry about unnecessary things, although he added that Clarke would continue to have a major say in selection and would get his preferred team within reason every time.