Australia skipper's final Test could see him enforce the follow-on for the first time
Clarke mulls follow-on as London wet looms
There are few genuine firsts remaining in Michael Clarke's cricket career, but his 115th and final Test might deliver one.
In his 46 Tests as Australia captain, Clarke has 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.
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One of those chances against England came earlier this Ashes series, when Clarke declined to make the hosts bat again at Lord’s after Australia had bowled them out 254 runs behind.
After Australia’s stunning performance with the ball overnight, day three of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval is likely to deliver another such opportunity.
England have only two wickets in hand and need a further 175 runs to pass the follow-on mark.
Rain is also predicted for days four and five, which could further tempt Clarke to buck the recent trend.
Watch the eight England wickets (Aus only)
Peter Siddle said he 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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After the second day’s play, captain-elect Steve Smith said it would have been nice to capture the remaining two England wickets before stumps.
"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," Smith said.
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."