Ponting advises Clarke not to switch

Champion batsman Ricky Ponting says Michael Clarke must remain at No.4 despite the Australia Test captain's poor record in the position.

Clarke's return of 10 and three in Australia's humbling eight-wicket loss in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston reduced his average at second-drop to 30.89 and his overall Test average to below 50 for the first time since April 2012.

Conversely, the 34-year-old averages 61.38 one spot lower at No.5 and has accumulated 5,936 runs in the position, the second-most by an Australian behind Steve Waugh with 6,754.

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But despite struggling in the position since taking the role full-time in January 2013, Clarke has been urged to stay put by his former captain and teammate Ponting.

"If Clarke doesn't bat at four (at Trent Bridge in the fourth Test) I think it sends a bad message out of the Australia dressing room," Ponting told Sky Sports UK.

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Clarke and Ponting chat at Edgbaston // Getty Images

"I don't think there is a major difference in the positions other than mindset so he needs to forget his record at No. 5, score runs and take pressure off the younger middle order.

"He will be in the nets quickly but getting your rhythm back happens in the middle as the extreme pressures of Ashes cricket are hard to replicate in practice.

"It will only take a good 20 or 30 for Clarke to turn things around."

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Shouldering blame: Clarke blames himself // Getty Images

Clarke hasn't shied away from his failures throughout the first three Tests of the Ashes.

In six innings this series, the right-hander has scored 94 runs, placing him behind his Test tormenter Stuart Broad (99 runs), Australia quick Mitchell Starc (98) and axed England batsman Gary Ballance (98).

Clarke puts Australia's middle-order woes squarely on his troublesome back, blaming his own performances and not the position where he bats.

"No, that's 100 per cent my own form," Clarke said when asked whether it was the No.4 spot or his own output that was concerning.

"I think it's always going to be hard to beat any opposition when they've got 11 and we've only 10.

"At the moment that's how it feels.

"With my performances so far I certainly haven't led from the front like I'd like to do as captain.

"I've always made that very clear, that's a big part of my role as leader of this team that I'm scoring plenty of runs and leading by example.

"It's always going to be difficult ... No.4 is such a critical position.

"You need to make sure you're scoring a lot more runs than I have been so far."

The other middle-order problem for Clarke is Adam Voges' form at No.5.

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Under pressure: Adam Voges // Getty Images

The Western Australian captain hasn't passed 37 since his debut century against the West Indies last month, and in this series is averaging 14.60.

Ponting says Voges appears to be overawed by the grand occasion of the Ashes and could be replaced by a close friend and state teammate.

"There will be a similar conversation around Voges as there will be around Adam Lyth for England," said Ponting.

"We know he made a hundred a few Tests ago but he looks to me like he is struggling with the pressures of Ashes cricket.

"Marsh has scored runs in every tour game and played most of his domestic cricket at No. 5."

Marsh's opened for Australia in the tour of the Caribbean where Voges debuted in place of Chris Rogers who was ruled out of the two-Test series with concussion.

While Marsh partnered David Warner that tour, he batted at No.5 against India last summer on home soil, and prior to that at No.4 in South Africa where he scored his career-best 148 in Centurion.

Marsh's flexibility allows Australia's selectors to replace Voges with a straight-swap should there be a change for Trent Bridge, and Clarke could return to No.5 with the confidence Marsh has prevailed at No.4 previously.

“The number is irrelevant, it is about what’s best for the team," Clarke said. 

"If the team need me to bat at four I will bat at four if the team needs me to bat at five I will bat at five. 

"A lot of that will be dictated by the XI the selectors give me."

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