Warne backs Clarke to turn form around

Michael Clarke missed out in his second innings at Edgbaston with the Australian captain scoring three on day two of the third Ashes Test, but Shane Warne says he could turn it all around with one knock in the next Test.

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Clarke, who scored 10 in the first innings on Wednesday, arrived at the crease before tea after Steve Smith was dismissed for eight, and was back in the pavilion in the second over after the restart when he edged Steve Finn to Adam Lyth at fourth slip.

Steven Finn was on a hat-trick after removing Michael Clarke and Adam Voges in succession (Australia only)

Clarke was quickly followed by Adam Voges - a first ball victim to the rejuvenated Finn - and the West Australian's position in the side could be under threat from in-form Shaun Marsh who has scored centuries in the recent tour matches against Kent and Derbyshire.

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Adam Voges missed out in the second innings // Getty Images

Voges's top score in five Ashes innings is 31 and he made 17 runs in two visits to the crease at Derby last week.

While he has had a lean run of late, Clarke's record speaks for itself.

During a golden period with the bat in 2012 he chalked up 1595 runs at 106.33 in 11 matches - the most in a calendar year by an Australian - and was the No.1 ranked batsman in the world.

It's only now that his average has dropped to under 50 (for the first time since April 2012).

But in his past 28 innings - a span stretching back to December 2013 - Clarke has reached 25 just six times and scored two hundreds.

Taking away the brave and hugely emotional 128 he made against India, shortly after the death of Phillip Hughes, the 34-year-old has scored 237 runs in his past 16 innings at an average of 19.6.

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Michael Clarke caught in the slips // Getty Images

Warne, Clarke's close friend and confidant, said it would be ridiculous to even consider dropping the skipper and believes he is just one innings away from getting back in the runs.

"Maybe Michael Clarke needs to get away and clear his mind for two or three days leading into the next Test match," Warne said on Sky Sports.

"He just needs one score and he's away. At the moment the problem is if the top three doesn't get runs, well who else is going to get them?

"Michael Clarke's a terrific player, but out of form at the moment."

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