A great wrap of the hectic 2015 Ashes series

Outgoing Australia captain Michael Clarke has implored curators around the globe to "have the courage" to produce Test match pitches that produce results on the fifth day.

No Test in the Ashes went into the fifth day, while the Edgbaston and Trent Bridge matches threatened to finish inside two days, and Clarke says the pitches have a lot to do with the rapid results.

"I'd like to see groundsmen around the world – not just here – have the courage to go with what they think is a good cricket wicket," Clarke said.

"I think we've seen in the first two Test matches a lot of talk from the media and the commentators … how flat the wickets were, yet those two Test matches were over in four days.

"One team won and one team lost. The next three are over in two and a half and three days."

Clarke's final press conference covers plenty of ground

Clarke says the criticism of the first two pitches, at Cardiff and Lord's, which were slow and low, led to overcompensation from the curators of the remaining Test venues.

"I think Test cricket is a five-day battle," Clarke added.

"I want to see good and fair cricket for both batters and bowlers.

"I think that's the way the game should be played – and, most importantly, I want to see a winner and a loser.

"But if the groundsman feels he knows how to produce a good wicket that will be a great battle of Test match cricket then I'd like to see them back themselves and go with that and not be persuaded by what's said in the media or what the commentators say."

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Following the Lord's Test where Australia scored 566 in the first innings and won by 405 runs, England captain Alastair Cook said his side wanted to play "on English wickets", and was thereafter greeted with green seaming wickets.

But Clarke says it is the fans who are suffering the most with seven days of possible cricket lost this series after the five fast finishes.

Clarke addresses The Oval crowd

"Cardiff and Lord's, we did see some really good cricket. I'm not saying the wickets were fantastic – don't get me wrong – but we've seen a winner and a loser over four days.

"I think the past three Test matches have not been that case.

"People have tickets for today to watch a whole day's play and tomorrow, and the same [occurred] for Edgbaston and Nottingham.

"The fans of the game deserve to see a really good contest for five days."