Full name Michael John Clarke
Born April 2, 1981, Liverpool, New South Wales
Current age 28 years 66 days
Major teams Australia, Hampshire, New South Wales
Nickname Pup, Clarkey
Playing role Lower middle order batsman
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Slow left-arm orthodox
Height 1.78 m
Profile
Michael Clarke came of age in 2006-07, showing he could marry a mature approach with a lifetime desire to entertain, and he has continued to take on more responsibility in preparation for succeeding Ricky Ponting as the country's captain. He is now the regular stand-in leader when Ponting rests and is a dependable batsman who registered three Test hundreds in 2008-09. There is no doubt over his importance to the team, but the next few years will determine how high he finishes in Australia's batting hierarchy.
At the start of the 2006-07 home summer Clarke was not meant to be in the Test squad; by the end of it he was a senior player who had regained the Ashes and won his first World Cup. A tattoo scrawled on his left arm the previous winter reminded him to seize the day and he strengthened his grip from the moment Shane Watson's torn hamstring allowed his re-entry. The flamboyant edges were usually curbed and the tinkered outlook brought him 389 Ashes runs at 77.80. A century at Adelaide secured his spot, a follow-up hundred in Perth confirmed his future, and by the end of the summer he was named vice-captain of the one-day side, although a hip problem ruined his immediate leadership aspirations. Recovering for the World Cup, he slotted in at No. 4 and finished tenth on the tournament's run-scoring list with 436 at 87.20, a haul enhanced by the limited batting time allowed by Hayden, Gilchrist and Ponting. In 2011 Clarke could be in charge of the push for a fourth consecutive trophy.
A full-time promotion to vice-captain came with Adam Gilchrist's retirement and Clarke was called into the top job in the West Indies for two limited-overs matches when Ponting succumbed to a wrist problem. He held the post for the one-day series against Bangladesh in Darwin, where he displayed forthright decision making in sending his friend Andrew Symonds home for going fishing. The appointment came after another assured Test campaign, which included a century against each of Sri Lanka, India and West Indies, and he also showed he was able to deal with a high-profile private life following his engagement to the model Lara Bingle (excusing one slip in January when he and Simon Katich had to be separated in the SCG dressing room).
Clarke already boasts a possibly unique claim to fame in Australian cricketing folklore: he was anointed as his country's next captain before he'd played a single Test. When he made his debut and a thrilling 151 against India at Bangalore his future looked even brighter than the yellow motorbike he received as the Man of the Match. The amazing ride continued with another stunning century on his home welcome at the Gabba, and his first Test season ended with the Allan Border Medal. Then came the fall.
Barely a year after his debut he was scuffing his feet around Hobart's Bellerive Oval while receiving a call from Trevor Hohns that ended his starburst at 20 Tests. A streak of 531 runs without a century through series against Pakistan, New Zealand, England, the World XI and West Indies led to his demotion and a desire "to tighten his technique", especially in the early stages against the swinging ball. An unbeaten 201 for New South Wales in the Pura Cup was a brave and swift response, but while he remained a one-day fixture, he had to wait until the low-key series against Bangladesh to reclaim his Test place. Three muted innings forced him and his supporters to wait for the Ashes.
Until his sacking in 2005 Clarke was a ravishing shotmaker with an unshakeable temperament. He did not so much take guard as take off. His arrival was typically the cue for a string of wristy, audacious flashes through the off side. All the while he radiated a pointy-elbowed elegance reminiscent of a young Greg Chappell or Mark Waugh, who, like Clarke, waited long and uncomplainingly for a Test opening and then marked the occasion with a century. Unlike Chappell and Waugh, who learned the ropes in domestic and county cricket, Clarke cut his teeth in Australia's one-day side. His impact in pyjamas was startling: he racked up 208 runs in four games before he was finally dismissed, and after 150 matches averaged in the low 40s at a strike-rate hovering in the high 70s. His bouncy fielding and searing run-outs, usually from square of the wicket, add to his value, while his left-arm tweakers cajole important breakthroughs, including six surprised Indians in the second innings of his fourth Test at Mumbai.
A cricket nut since he was in nappies, Clarke honed his technique against the bowling machine at his dad's indoor centre. He is meticulous about his hair, adores fast cars, is proudly patriotic, wearing an Australian flag on the back of his bat in his early internationals, and before he played a Test he signed a record-breaking A$1.25m deal with Dunlop-Slazenger. A future star soon transformed into a genuine one, but it was not until the 2006-07 Ashes that he proved he was ready.
Career
Clarke quickly began showing his potential, after being fast-tracked into the Australian national team, making his One Day International debut in January 2003 against England at Adelaide. He immediately made a name for himself on the international scene for his aggressive yet mature batting ability.
Clarke was chosen to make his Test debut against India at Bangalore, October 2004, despite having a first-class average below 40. He succeeded on debut, scoring 151 and consequently helping Australia to victory, invoking comparisons to past Australian batsmen such as Doug Walters and Mark Waugh. The innings, felt Peter Roebuck, was especially notable for its aggression and freedom. "Not that the assault was reckless," he added. "Indeed the control was impressive. Clarke calculated the risks and took his brains with him down the track. Of course he need [sic] a bit of luck, was plumb in front in the nineties, but few begrudged him his hundred. And everyone except his weary foes celebrated with him and his tearful family when he reached three figures. After all, he had advanced both the match and the game."
Clarke went on to play a major part in Australia's 2-1 series victory, their first in India in over thirty years, contributing figures of 6 for 9 off 6.2 overs in the Fourth Test, which Australia lost.
On his return to Australia he made another debut century, his first home Test in Brisbane against New Zealand, becoming one of the few Test cricketers to have achieved the feat of Test centuries on both their home and away debuts.
In recognition of his performance in the 2004 calendar year, he was awarded the Allan Border Medal in 2005.
Clarke's poor form during the 2005 Ashes series and his failure to score a test century for over a year saw him dropped from the Test team in late 2005. Clarke had previously remarked that one of his career aims was to never be dropped from the Test team. In early 2006, after making his first first-class double century and scoring heavily in ODIs, Clarke was recalled for the tour of South Africa. He was then picked over Andrew Symonds for the April 2006 Tests against Bangladesh. Two consecutive centuries in the second and third Ashes Tests while Shane Watson was injured helped Australia to regain the Ashes and cemented Clarke's position in the Test team.
Clarke then helped Australia retain the World Cup in 2007 in the West Indies where they did not lose a game. After Damien Martyn's retirement he was elevated to number 5 in the batting line up. He had a superb tournament making 4 fifties including a 92 and a 93* against the Netherlands and South Africa. He also made an unbeaten 60 against South Africa in the semi final to guide Australia into the final at Barbados, against Sri Lanka.
Clarke faced only 4 balls for 3 runs in the ICC World Twenty20, when Australia were knocked out by India in the semi final. Two weeks later he made 130 against India in the first of a 7 match ODI series. He did not maintain that form in the remaining 6 matches mustering up just one fifty. He opened the batting in the final 2 games after a hip injury ruled out Matthew Hayden and he made two golden ducks. In the tour-ending Twenty20 match Clarke dropped back down the order with the return of Hayden, and scored 25 not out in a heavy defeat to the current Twenty20 world champions.
On 9 November 2007, Clarke notched up his fifth Test century against Sri Lanka in a two Test series. Clarke shared a 245 run partnership with Mike Hussey at the Gabba in Brisbane, Hussey departed on 133 but Clarke went on and had a partnership with Symonds who made 53*, the pair were unbeaten when Ricky Ponting declared the innings, Clarke top scoring with 145 not out.
On 5 December 2007, Cricket Australia named Clarke as captain of Australia for their one-off Twenty20 game against New Zealand in Perth, after deciding to rest Ponting and Hayden.
On 6 January 2008, Clarke dismissed Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Ishant Sharma in the second last over of the day, with just 8 minutes remaining, to claim the final three wickets and win the test match for Australia (at one stage he was on a hat trick, dismissing Harbhajan Singh and RP Singh on consecutive deliveries). His innings figures were 3 for 5 in 1.5 overs. Australian captain Ricky Ponting had declared that morning, setting India a total of 333 to chase and allowing Australia arguably too little time to bowl out the visitors. Clarke's wickets ensured that Australia retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2008 and kept their world record equalling 16 match win streak alive.
Since the retirement of Adam Gilchrist, Clarke has taken over the mantle as Ponting's vice-captain, but Clarke missed the start of Australia's 2008 tour of the West Indies following the death of Bingle's father, meaning Hussey took over as vice-captain for the start of the tour. Soon after Clarke joined up with the squad, he scored a century in the second Test in Antigua, going on to captain the side in the final two One Day Internationals, both of which were won, in the absence through injury of Ponting.
He was named man of the series in the recent two-Test series against New Zealand in Australia with scores of 110, 98 and 10, as well as being the top run-scorer in the three-Test series against South Africa in Australia.
Michael also won the 2009 Allan Border Medal in a tie with Ricky Ponting both scoring 41 points, along with being named Test Cricketer of the Year.
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