Clarke mulls follow-on as London wet looms

Michael Clarke is yet to enforce the follow-on in his 115-Test career, but Australia's outgoing skipper may be tempted to buck the trend at The Oval.

Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke is yet to enforce the follow-on in his 115-Test career. (AAP)

There are few genuine firsts remaining in Michael Clarke's cricket career, but his 115th and final Test might deliver one.

Clarke has captained Australia in 46 Tests but never enforced the follow-on.

The 34-year-old has had four opportunities to do so - twice against England and once each against India and South Africa.

Day three of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval will almost certainly deliver another.

England have only two wickets in hand and need a further 175 runs to pass the follow-on mark.

Rain is predicted for days four and five, further tempting Clarke to buck the recent trend.

"It would have been nice to have had that wicket tonight and potentially have bowled them out," captain-elect Steve Smith said.

"We'll see how we go early in the morning, if we get the two wickets quickly Michael might think about sending them back in."

England paceman Steve Finn suggested his side wouldn't spend the night guessing what Clarke will do.

"Whatever they decide to do, we have to be prepared," he said.

"I'm sure all our batsmen will be prepared to follow on tomorrow ... but also as a bowling unit, we have to be prepared to go out there and put in a better performance."

Clarke scored 15 in the first innings of dead rubber, ending potentially his final Test knock by reviewing a caught-behind dismissal.

Peter Siddle felt it would be fitting for Clarke to sign off with a crushing innings defeat, engineered by an attacking ploy.

"Enforce it, us come back out, bowl well and win by an innings it'd be a nice result," Siddle told cricket.com.au.

"That's why the captains get paid the big bucks.

"It will be a big decision for him tonight to see which way he'll go, but we've got to make it easy for him tomorrow morning."


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Source: AAP


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