Michael Clarke is forcing the selectors to make a call about his future after the Ashes by making it clear he won't walk away from international cricket no matter what happens in the remaining two Tests.
Clarke insists his plans for his international playing future do not rest on the outcome of the Trent Bridge Test, which starts on Thursday, and which Australia's players are treating as their "grand final".
"I'm not retiring," the struggling but defiant captain said on the eve of the match in Nottingham, which Australia must win to preserve their bid to win an Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001.
Clarke's refusal to contemplate retirement puts the ball firmly in the court of Rod Marsh and his selection panel, in effect forcing them to make a decision on his future and the Australian captaincy if his poor batting form continues at Trent Bridge and the Oval.
It also adds intrigue to the relationship between the captain and the selectors, particularly Marsh and coach Darren Lehmann, which has been strained in the past.
When Australia's players arrived for their pre-match training session on Tuesday morning, Clarke was already more than half an hour into throwdowns from batting coach Michael Di Venuto. But the captain said that had less to do with his batting form than with his general philosophy to training.
"I haven't trained any harder over the past two or three days than I would have done since I took over the captaincy," he said.
"Since I took over the captaincy I have always come to training earlier than everyone else to make sure I get my preparation done before the team arrives. In life the harder you work, the luckier you become. I've got faith I've been working hard enough for long enough that there's a big score around the corner."
While Clarke can't control selection he does set the batting order, and speculation that he would drop down a rung to No.5, where he boasts a superior batting average, was given weight by Clarke's confidant, Shane Warne, predicting it would occur.
Clarke's England counterpart Alastair Cook was asked if it would be a morale boost for the England team to see the Australian demoting himself. Cook said that while he was "sure it will probably get mentioned if he does" he added Clarke would only do "what's best for Australia's side".
"If it works and they score more runs because of it then you'll say it's the right move. If it doesn't, then it's not the right move. At the end of the day it's judgment," Cook said.
Rather than regretting having chosen to bat last week at Edgbaston, after which the team was bowled out within 37 overs, Clarke said he stood by that decision, so much so he would volunteer to bat first on a pitch he expects to be a near replica to the one England skittled them on last week.
"If the wicket is exactly the same at Edgbaston and I win the toss I will bat again," Clarke vowed. "I don't regret batting at Edgbaston. We just didn't bat well enough."
Clarke said the Trent Bridge groundsman had informed him the final grass length for the pitch would be 9 millimetres, in line with conditions last week in Birmingham.
"The wicket looks identical to Edgbaston ... it might be a little bit slower but there will be enough swing and enough seam," he said.
Australia were poised to keep faith with the pace attack of Mitch Johnson, Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood they have deployed in the five Tests played in the West Indies and England since June.
The issue of which two of Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh and Shaun Marsh would complete Australia's batting order was clouded by Voges playing only a minor part in their training session on Tuesday due to neck stiffness.
Voges, who is reputed to be under significant pressure to retain his spot because of his lean start to the series, left a batting session and summoned team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris. After a short exchange he retreated to the dressing room, not to return.
Voges' chances of retaining his spot appeared to have been helped by his deployment at first slip during slips-cordon training on Monday and Tuesday, and being sent into the nets with the other top-five batsmen.
Mitch Marsh began Tuesday's session bowling with reserve seamers Peter Siddle and Pat Cummins and was behind all of his top-seven batting teammates, plus his older brother, in the batting schedule.
While Lehmann favours the inclusion of an all-rounder in his teams, and the 23-year-old bowled with good control at Edgbaston, the fact Clarke used him for only 8.1 overs in Birmingham could persuade selectors that trait is not integral. That would, however, increase the demands on strike bowlers Johnson and Starc.
Clarke said Australia would draw confidence from the way they struck back hard against England, from Cardiff to Lord's, in regards to overcoming last week's hefty loss in Birmingham that put them on the brink of losing the series.
"There should be no reason why guys aren't absolutely buzzing, because for us this is our grand final," Clarke said.
"I don't think you can build it up too much ... you want the excitement that comes with a grand final, but you also want the calmness and freedom to go out there and play like you play in any other Test match. The occasion will be a fantastic build-up for our attitude where we've got so much to play for, but you've got to do the business, you've got to bat well, got to bowl well."
