Clarke refreshed for England battle

Michael Clarke has returned to training and is ready to shrug off a disappointing New Zealand tour and focus on the "ultimate" trip to England. After a summer of massive highs that tailed off as autumn arrived, Clarke put down his bat to refresh from a season in which he was crowned Australia's wonder boy and received the Allan Border Medal.

Spending nine months on the road in his first full-time stint with Australia, Clarke, 24, chilled out "doing not very much" for two weeks before returning to light training. Clarke, who burst into Test cricket with centuries on home and away debut, registered only 128 runs in his last eight innings and is determined not to lose his motivation.

"As a kid growing up I think I saw it as the ultimate tour. Watching cricket on television, the Ashes was always so special," Clarke told AAP. "To play at the home of cricket, to play at Lord's, will be fantastic so I'm definitely looking forward to it."

Clarke will increase his fitness and batting load before the June departure and said he was "keen as mustard" to arrive in London, where he expects a close and tough contest. "England are playing fantastic cricket at the moment, they have a great team and I know all the Aussies are looking forward to getting over there," he said. "We'll be doing everything in our power to get over there and win every game if possible."