Michael Clarke given Ashes guard of honour by England players on his final Test for Australia before retirement

Clarke also had a black armband on with the initials PH paying tribute to the late Philip Hughes

England give Australia captain Michael Clarke a guard of honour as he walks out for his first innings (Getty Images)

Michael Clarke was given a guard of honour by the entire England team as he came out to bat in his final Test match.

The Australian captain was also treated to a standing ovation by the sell-out crowd at The Oval as he made his way onto the pitch, possibly for the last time ever with a bat in his hand, having announced his retirement from the sport at the end of this series.

Clarke, who came out to bat with the score at 161/2, following David Warner’s dismissal by Moeen Ali, has endured a difficult series both as a captain and batsman, perhaps hastening his decision to walk away from the game.

Following his emotional and heartfelt reception from the crowd, Clarke nearly got off to the worst possible start, turning his first ball from Ali to leg slip and for a second appearing like he might be run out as he wandered down the pitch.

It would have been a dismissal to echo his appearance on this ground in the 2009 Ashes, when he was run out from leg slip by Andrew Strauss.

However fortunately for Clarke, batting in a black armband emblazoned with the letters PH on in memory of Philip Hughes, he avoided dismissal and bats on, looking for a hundred in his last Test to go with the one he got in his first.