Cricket: Australia's only option is to keep Clarke

Michael Clarke took the blame for Australia's Ashes loss to England. Photo / AP

Selectors have assured Michael Clarke he has all the time he needs to fix his struggling form after the captain took the blame for Australia's crushing Ashes loss to England at Edgbaston yesterday.

Australia's tail added 97 runs on day three, setting England a target of 121. Ian Bell and Joe Root guided England to victory in 32.1 overs, handing Clarke a record-breaking 12th away loss as Australia captain and the hosts a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

For a player of Clarke's standing and ability, the show of faith might be the least he deserves, but there's another alarming reason why the 34-year-old is perhaps under less pressure than he otherwise could be at this crossroads in his career.

And that is, who else would come into the side?

Batting depth in Australian cricket is at an all-time low and selectors desperately need Clarke to lead the way through what shapes as a difficult regeneration of the test line-up. Adam Voges at 35 has likely played his last test and it would seem 37-year-old Chris Rogers will also be moved on after the Ashes.

Shaun Marsh at 32, and with a mediocre 15-year record, has been pencilled in to take over Rogers' opening spot long term, but that's where the obvious list of replacements begins and ends.

"As long as he needs, he's captain," said coach Darren Lehmann of the patience that will be shown to Clarke. "But he's got to play well.

"I can't complain about the work ethic of any of the players, especially Michael as captain. He sets the tone and raises the bar of what you need to do to play well at this level.

"We're not going to panic, that's for sure."

However, looking at the list of batsmen putting their hand up for test selection doesn't make for easy reading.

Usman Khawaja remains an unproven talent at test level, Joe Burns got a taste during the summer and may deserve another look, and Glenn Maxwell and Moises Henriques are options Australia still haven't given up on.

It says it all about the lack of young talent in Shield batting, that veterans Rogers and Voges in their mid-30s have been two of the more recent call-ups.

If Clarke was to retire any time soon, untold pressure would rest on the shoulders of Steve Smith and David Warner. Selectors face a pending crisis similar to when Shane Warne, Matt Hayden, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath all retired within two years of each other.