Michael Clarke has quit Twenty20 cricket, giving up the captaincy of Australia's shortest format side, in the aftermath of the Ashes humiliation.
Just as Ricky Ponting gave up Twenty20 after 2009's Ashes loss to focus on his Test career, Clarke has followed due to his poor form in this series.
Clarke will now hold no full-time captaincy position, with Ponting expected to return from injury to lead the one-day and Test teams.
Clarke came under heavy criticism for his slow scoring rate in the Twenty20 format. He steered Australia to its first World Twenty20 final in the West Indies in 2009, but with pressure to retain his place in the Test side mounting it's understood he believes he has little choice but to retire from Twenty20 to prolong his career in the long format.
Cricket Australia refused to comment on Clarke's decision but it will be made official at a press conference after play at the SCG today.
Clarke assumed the captaincy of the Twenty20 side after Ponting retired from that team immediately after losing the Ashes 2-1 in England in August 2009.
In 34 Twenty20s for Australia, Clarke averaged 21.21 with a strike-rate of 103.17.
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