'Defiant' Clarke rubbishes retirement talk

Australian skipper Michael Clarke has hit back at the critics who suggested that he no longer has the hunger for international cricket, insisting that he would continue to play even after the Ashes series.

Clarke has been heavily criticised over his constant batting slump, with Australia media suggesting the captain was on the brink of his retirement following an eight-wicket loss to England in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

However, the 34-year-old said that although the criticisms of his game at the moment are deserved, it was 'complete load of rubbish' to say that he no longer has the hunger for cricket, Sport24 reported.

Clarke further said that the people could certainly criticise his performance but they couldn't question his desire and will to play game, insisting that he had no intention to walk away from cricket.

Clarke, who averages 49.73 in Test, has scored just 94 runs in six innings in the first three Ashes tests. The batsman, who has played the majority of his career at No 5, was moved up the order to fourth in 2013 and has largely struggled since.

Clarke, who suffered from back and hamstring injuries in the past year, is at a crunch point of his brilliant career and will seek to level the series in the fourth Test, which starts from Thursday.