Michael Clarke has given a damning assessment of his own form ahead of the Fourth Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, saying his Australia side are effectively ‘playing with ten players.’

The 34-year-old is averaging less than 19 in the series to date having contributed scores of ten and three at Edgbaston, and he admits that a drop down the order is a possibility.

“The form at number four certainly concerns me,” he said. “We’re playing with ten players. The captain is due to step off the plane and turn up. That’s the plan for the next Test.

“We’ve all got to contribute. We’ve all got to score runs as a batting unit and we’ve got to find a way to take 20 wickets.

“The bowling has been one of our greatest strengths over the last four months. We’ve got to make sure we are scoring runs consistently.

“For me it’s all about preparation. If I’m doing that hard work, then that will give me the self-belief to go out and score runs. That’s been the formula throughout my career.

“England deserve credit. They’ve bowled well to me, got me out early and I haven’t been able to settle. I’ve got to find a way to turn that around in the next Test.

“My record is better at number four,” Clarke added. “But what’s important is what is best for the team. If it’s better to bat at number four for the team, then I’ll go there. If it’s better at number five, I’ll go there.”

Clarke believes his own job, and that of his teammates in the Australia batting order, will be made easier by the absence of James Anderson through injury.

“You don’t wish injury on anybody,” Clarke said. “Jimmy showed his class in the first innings in this game and you don’t want to play against a weaker team.

“But that’s the way it goes. Someone else gets an opportunity for England. I’m sure they will do exceptionally well, but we have to take confidence from that.

“His record at Notts is very good. Maybe that could be like 2005 when Glenn McGrath went down.”