Clarke's Arthur snub
Michael Clarke has written Mickey Arthur out of Australian cricket history.
As Australia seek to complete the fourth stage of a potential Ashes whitewash, Clarke refused to contemplate the influence of the sacked national coach on his team's resurgent form.
"It is Christmas Day and I have nothing bad to say about anybody," Clarke said pointedly after being asked about Arthur's legacy.
"Now is not the right time to talk about that.
"The more you talk about a past coach or a past player there are implications that offend the current coach or the current player.
"And if you don't say what the past coach or the past player wants to hear you will offend them. I would prefer to offend nobody and not get involved."
Arthur coached Australia 19 times for 10 wins - including series clean sweeps over India and Sri Lanka - but was sacked on the eve of the winter Ashes series following a disastrous tour of India.
Cricket Australia said the national team's declining standards and poor culture forced the decision though Clarke, as captain, and the side's management were spared any responsibility for the team's slide.
Darren Lehmann replaced Arthur in England where Australia lost 3-0 but started to reveal the form that has continued into their 3-0 lead in this series.
Clarke was not sure how long he would remain in the job but said he hoped to retire before the selectors tapped him on the shoulder.
Previous Australian captains Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting said five years appeared to be the natural shelf life of the position, but Clarke would not look beyond the immediate match and series.
"I'm not silly enough at 32 years of age to look past tomorrow, to be honest," he said.
"I know a couple of ducks and my job's on the line or a couple of losses and I'm under the same pressure. How long will I remain captain? Until the selectors decide to drop me, I guess, or I decide to retire.
"It will be one or the other. Hopefully retirement comes before getting dropped."
