Ashes 2015: Michael Clarke hits 44 as Australia draw with Derbyshire

Michael Clarke has struck more than 50 just twice in 16 innings for his country

Michael Clarke made an unbeaten 44 as Australia drew a rain-affected tour match with Derbyshire in the tourists' last game before the third Ashes Test.

Clarke, 34, has only scored 81 runs in four Ashes innings this summer, with the series level at 1-1 ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

He managed just 16 as Australia reached 413-9 in their first innings at Derby.

But, after being dropped on 19, he was on 44 when a draw was agreed with Australia 95-1 in their second innings.

Half a day's play on Friday had been lost in the three-day game because of rain, and a draw was decided with 90 minutes of scheduled play left at the County Ground.

Derbyshire resumed on 81-2 and fell to 129-7 but Tony Palladino hit 82 as the hosts were bowled out for 259, with Mitchell Marsh taking 4-41 and Fawad Ahmed claiming 3-68.

Openers David Warner and Shaun Marsh both made centuries in Australia's first innings but Clarke, who had come in at number three on Thursday, promoted himself to open when his side batted again.

Home wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein could not take a catch which would have given 19-year-old debutant Will Davis the wicket of Clarke - the fifth-highest run scorer in Australia's Test history.

The tourists will be hopeful Chris Rogers will be fit to face England as he ran drinks on for his team-mates during the innings as he recovers from bouts of dizziness suffered during the second Test, which Australia won by 405 runs to level the series.