Michael Clarke Tribute
Clarke's 10 best Test centuries
10) 259* v South Africa, Gabba, Brisbane, 2012
This innings was strikingly similar to his historic triple-century against India just 11 months previous. Once again, Clarke was forced to dig his heels in late in the day in fading light with Australia three wickets down for less than 50. But having worked hard early in his innings, the skipper was rewarded the following day when he opened his shoulders and struck 26 crisply-hit boundaries in an innings that was close to flawless.
9) 130 v India, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 2013
Clarke’s nimble feet have always enabled him to look at ease on the subcontinent when a lot of his teammates have struggled. And not for the first time, the captain showed his fellow batsmen how to play in the dusty conditions they were presented with in Chennai. With the tourists struggling at 5-153, Clarke found an unlikely ally in debutant Moises Henriques and was at his fleet-footed best against India’s three-man spin attack.
8) 168 v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 2010
This was an innings that was far from Clarke's best, but it was a personal triumph. As the break-up of his relationship with then fiancée Lara Bingle garnered extensive media attention on both sides of the Tasman, Clarke returned to New Zealand after a quick trip home and did what he was paid to do - score centuries.
7) 136 v England, Lord's, London, 2009
On his second Test tour of England, Clarke was a shining light with the bat as Australia gave up the Ashes urn in 2009 and his knock at Lord's was the highlight of a strong series. Against a strong performance from England star Andrew Flintoff, Clarke was solid on day four along with Brad Haddin as the tourists pursued the most unlikely victory target of 522. His dismissal early on day five - bowled by Graeme Swann - ended Australia's faint hopes of a win.
6) 230 v South Africa, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 2012
The pitch was flat and the boundaries were short, but Clarke made the world's No.1 bowling attack look second-rate with a thrilling double-century on the opening day. For the second Test in a row, the captain rescued Australia from a dangerous position and brought up his 200 from only 226 balls. Coming to the crease at 3-55, the skipper hit 40 fours and a six, including five boundaries off one over from Morne Morkel.
5) 151 v India, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, 2004
This was a debut century to remember, coming against the best spin-bowling pair in the world in their home conditions. The new young 'Pup' showed no fear against Indian spin greats Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, smashing 18 boundaries and four sixes (then a record for a debutant) on his way to 151.
4) 329* v India, SCG, Sydney, 2012
The number 329 will forever be associated with Clarke as he became just the fifth Australian to score a Test triple century. The skipper came to the crease with the Aussies in a spot of bother at 3-37 late on the opening day having ripped through India for just 191. Clarke dug his heels in to be unbeaten on 47 at stumps and then flourished on days two and three, sharing brilliant partnerships with rejuvenated veterans Ricky Ponting and then Michael Hussey as he wrote his name in the history books.
3) 161* v South Africa, Newlands, Cape Town, 2014
One of two brilliant performances at Newlands in Clarke's career, but this innings was in complete contrast to the 151 he scored three years previous (see below). On this occasion, the pitch was flat, South Africa were without their injured strike bowler and Australia were in control of the match thanks to a blistering century from David Warner. But the vicious barrage Clarke copped (and survived) from Morne Morkel - who he'd smashed in Adelaide 18 months earlier - will live long in the memory. If there were any critics left who questioned the skipper’s toughness under fire, he silenced them with this innings.
2) 151 v South Africa, Newlands, Cape Town, 2011
Unfortunately, Clarke’s greatest innings as a batsman came just a day before one of the worst moments of his captaincy career. Coming to the crease with his side 3-40 on the opening day, Clarke scored 22 of Australia’s 36 boundaries in tricky conditions against an attack of Steyn, Morkel and Philander. He took just 108 balls to reach his century on a day when the rest of Australia's top six had an average strike rate of less than 30. But that was almost all forgotten the following day when the Aussies were routed for 47 in their second innings on their way to a heavy defeat.
1) 128 v India, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 2014
Did this innings display Michael Clarke's batsmanship at its finest? Nope. Was it a century scored in the face of a destructive bowling attack in tricky conditions? Far from it. But it's not hyperbole to suggest that no player has ever pushed through the kind of emotional and physical pain that Clarke did on the 9th and 10th of December last year. Just a week after he delivered an emotional eulogy and said farewell to his "little brother" Phillip Hughes, Clarke gritted his teeth and peeled off a century that - bar a dramatic form reversal at The Oval in a fortnight - will be his last as a Test player. Crippled by his dodgy back part the way through his innings, the captain retired hurt but returned the following day to cut and grind his way to a magnificent 128 in what was his final Test match on home soil.
Michael Clarke's Tribute To Phillip Hughes
2 - Since Clarke's debut on October 6, 2004, only two players - Alastair Cook and Kumar Sangakkara - have aggregated more runs than him.
3 - The number of Australian captains who have won the Ashes 5-0. Michael Clarke in 2013-14, Ricky Ponting in 2006-07 and Warwick Armstrong in 1920-21.
151 – The number of runs Michael Clarke scored in his first Test innings at Bangalore in 2004, the highest by an Australian on debut away from home and fifth highest of all time. Clarke was the 389th player to don the Baggy Green. During the course of his 151, Clarke also hit four sixes, the most by a debutant at that time. It was later bettered by Tim Southee, who hit 9 sixes against England at Napier in 2008.
329 – Michael Clarke's highest score, which against India at Sydney in 2012. He became sixth from Australia to register triple-century in Tests. The 329 is also the fifth highest score by a captain in Tests.
4 – Number of double-centuries scored by Clarke in 2012, the most by a batsman in a calendar year. He started the year with 329 against India at SCG and two matches later scored 210 at Adelaide Oval in the same series. He started the next home season with an unbeaten 259 against South Africa at the Gabba and followed it up with 230 in the next match in Adelaide. That last double-ton came off just 226 balls, the second fastest by an Australian in Test history.
103.00 - Clarke’s Test average at the Gabba in Brisbane, the fifth highest for a batsman at a single venue (Minimum: 1000 runs)
Michael Clarke - His Life
Clarke's 10 best Test centuries
10) 259* v South Africa, Gabba, Brisbane, 2012
This innings was strikingly similar to his historic triple-century against India just 11 months previous. Once again, Clarke was forced to dig his heels in late in the day in fading light with Australia three wickets down for less than 50. But having worked hard early in his innings, the skipper was rewarded the following day when he opened his shoulders and struck 26 crisply-hit boundaries in an innings that was close to flawless.
9) 130 v India, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 2013
Clarke’s nimble feet have always enabled him to look at ease on the subcontinent when a lot of his teammates have struggled. And not for the first time, the captain showed his fellow batsmen how to play in the dusty conditions they were presented with in Chennai. With the tourists struggling at 5-153, Clarke found an unlikely ally in debutant Moises Henriques and was at his fleet-footed best against India’s three-man spin attack.
8) 168 v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 2010
This was an innings that was far from Clarke's best, but it was a personal triumph. As the break-up of his relationship with then fiancée Lara Bingle garnered extensive media attention on both sides of the Tasman, Clarke returned to New Zealand after a quick trip home and did what he was paid to do - score centuries.
7) 136 v England, Lord's, London, 2009
On his second Test tour of England, Clarke was a shining light with the bat as Australia gave up the Ashes urn in 2009 and his knock at Lord's was the highlight of a strong series. Against a strong performance from England star Andrew Flintoff, Clarke was solid on day four along with Brad Haddin as the tourists pursued the most unlikely victory target of 522. His dismissal early on day five - bowled by Graeme Swann - ended Australia's faint hopes of a win.
6) 230 v South Africa, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 2012
The pitch was flat and the boundaries were short, but Clarke made the world's No.1 bowling attack look second-rate with a thrilling double-century on the opening day. For the second Test in a row, the captain rescued Australia from a dangerous position and brought up his 200 from only 226 balls. Coming to the crease at 3-55, the skipper hit 40 fours and a six, including five boundaries off one over from Morne Morkel.
5) 151 v India, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, 2004
This was a debut century to remember, coming against the best spin-bowling pair in the world in their home conditions. The new young 'Pup' showed no fear against Indian spin greats Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, smashing 18 boundaries and four sixes (then a record for a debutant) on his way to 151.
4) 329* v India, SCG, Sydney, 2012
The number 329 will forever be associated with Clarke as he became just the fifth Australian to score a Test triple century. The skipper came to the crease with the Aussies in a spot of bother at 3-37 late on the opening day having ripped through India for just 191. Clarke dug his heels in to be unbeaten on 47 at stumps and then flourished on days two and three, sharing brilliant partnerships with rejuvenated veterans Ricky Ponting and then Michael Hussey as he wrote his name in the history books.
3) 161* v South Africa, Newlands, Cape Town, 2014
One of two brilliant performances at Newlands in Clarke's career, but this innings was in complete contrast to the 151 he scored three years previous (see below). On this occasion, the pitch was flat, South Africa were without their injured strike bowler and Australia were in control of the match thanks to a blistering century from David Warner. But the vicious barrage Clarke copped (and survived) from Morne Morkel - who he'd smashed in Adelaide 18 months earlier - will live long in the memory. If there were any critics left who questioned the skipper’s toughness under fire, he silenced them with this innings.
2) 151 v South Africa, Newlands, Cape Town, 2011
Unfortunately, Clarke’s greatest innings as a batsman came just a day before one of the worst moments of his captaincy career. Coming to the crease with his side 3-40 on the opening day, Clarke scored 22 of Australia’s 36 boundaries in tricky conditions against an attack of Steyn, Morkel and Philander. He took just 108 balls to reach his century on a day when the rest of Australia's top six had an average strike rate of less than 30. But that was almost all forgotten the following day when the Aussies were routed for 47 in their second innings on their way to a heavy defeat.
1) 128 v India, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 2014
Did this innings display Michael Clarke's batsmanship at its finest? Nope. Was it a century scored in the face of a destructive bowling attack in tricky conditions? Far from it. But it's not hyperbole to suggest that no player has ever pushed through the kind of emotional and physical pain that Clarke did on the 9th and 10th of December last year. Just a week after he delivered an emotional eulogy and said farewell to his "little brother" Phillip Hughes, Clarke gritted his teeth and peeled off a century that - bar a dramatic form reversal at The Oval in a fortnight - will be his last as a Test player. Crippled by his dodgy back part the way through his innings, the captain retired hurt but returned the following day to cut and grind his way to a magnificent 128 in what was his final Test match on home soil.
Michael Clarke's Tribute To Phillip Hughes
2 - Since Clarke's debut on October 6, 2004, only two players - Alastair Cook and Kumar Sangakkara - have aggregated more runs than him.
3 - The number of Australian captains who have won the Ashes 5-0. Michael Clarke in 2013-14, Ricky Ponting in 2006-07 and Warwick Armstrong in 1920-21.
151 – The number of runs Michael Clarke scored in his first Test innings at Bangalore in 2004, the highest by an Australian on debut away from home and fifth highest of all time. Clarke was the 389th player to don the Baggy Green. During the course of his 151, Clarke also hit four sixes, the most by a debutant at that time. It was later bettered by Tim Southee, who hit 9 sixes against England at Napier in 2008.
329 – Michael Clarke's highest score, which against India at Sydney in 2012. He became sixth from Australia to register triple-century in Tests. The 329 is also the fifth highest score by a captain in Tests.
4 – Number of double-centuries scored by Clarke in 2012, the most by a batsman in a calendar year. He started the year with 329 against India at SCG and two matches later scored 210 at Adelaide Oval in the same series. He started the next home season with an unbeaten 259 against South Africa at the Gabba and followed it up with 230 in the next match in Adelaide. That last double-ton came off just 226 balls, the second fastest by an Australian in Test history.
103.00 - Clarke’s Test average at the Gabba in Brisbane, the fifth highest for a batsman at a single venue (Minimum: 1000 runs)
Michael Clarke - His Life
if the ball didn't keep low and if Sanath didn't get out at that time, who knows what would have happen!
