Aus captain Clarke to quit cricket before his late 30s

Clarke said he won't continue to play on into his late 30s like former Australian captains Steve Waugh who played till 38, and Ricky Ponting who, at 37, is still there in the fray.

Michael Clarke and his wife Kyly (L).

The 31-year-old said he has been 'blessed' by cricket and marriage to Kyly Boldy and would be settling down within a few years.

"I am enjoying playing now but in time I won't be the guy playing at 38, 39, 40," Clarke was quoted as saying by the Australian media.

"I hope I can have my impact in a short space of time and then be finished. I would love to see the team have success, achieve what it can achieve," he added.

Clarke said that he will draw curtains to his career the moment he finished as Australia skipper, unlike Ponting who has continued to play under his successor for 10 months.