Australia captain Michael Clarke will retire at the end of the Ashes, according to reports.

Clarke, 34, has endured a torrid time with the bat in the current series and seems certain to lose the Ashes for the fourth time on English soil.

There has been no official confirmation from Cricket Australia or Clarke, who will expected to fulfil his usual media duties at the end of the fourth Investec Test at Trent Bridge, but News Corp Australia reported that he decided to leave the game after being told he will be dropped after the finale at The Oval.

Clarke averages just 16.71 in his four innings to date this summer, with his vulnerability to the short ball now infecting his front-foot game.

He has a top score of 38 in eight innings and his career mark has slipped below 50 as a result.

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Clarke retired from one-day cricket after leading his country to World Cup glory earlier this year but declared his intention to continue in the longer format despite long-standing back problems.

A major goal would have been to beat England on their own patch after losing the urn in 2005, 2009 and 2013 but he now appears destined to bow out with a fourth and final away loss.

Vice-captain Steve Smith, seen in conversation with chairman of selectors Rod Marsh shortly after the news broke, is the man likely to inherit the reins.