Ranking Michael Clarke’s top 3 performances in Test cricket

Whenever we think of Australian batsmanship we think of them as good players with fast and bouncy pitches and spin tracks can be their nemesis. However, Michael Clarke was one of the few Australian batters who are outstandingly good against spinners as much as he was against fast bowlers. 

Born on April 2nd, 1981, Michael Clarke was one of the finest batters produced by Australia. He was among the few Aussie batters who had equally decent performances in the subcontinent as he had on bouncy Australian pitches. 

Michael Clarke appeared in 115 Tests for Australia and has an average of nearly 50 with 8,643 runs. He has 28 hundred, 4 double hundreds, and one triple century against his name in Test cricket. This article will highlight his top 3 performances in Test cricket for Australia which are etched in the memory of cricket fans around the world: 

3) 151 against South Africa- Cape Town-2011 

It was a historic test match as Australia got bundled out for just 47 runs in their 2nd innings resulting in a humiliating loss for them against South Africa. It was a nightmare test match for Australian batters but Michael Clarke’s sensational century in the 1st innings was the only shining light for them in the match. 

It was a tricky Cape Town wicket, and the Australian batters were under the pump against the fiery bowling trio of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander. In the 1st innings, Clarke came into bat when Australia was reeling 40 for 3 and played a sensational knock of 151 runs. Clarke was a different beast that day as he completed his century in just 108 deliveries on a pitch where other Australian batters had an average batting strike rate of less than 30. It was one of the memorable knocks of Michael Clarke’s test and featured at the 3rd spot in our list. 

2) 128 against India- Adelaide-2014 

Michael Clarke has played many great Test knocks in his illustrious career, but his 128 runs innings were one of the most special and emotional of his entire career. This innings came on the back of Phil Hughes’s tragic death during a Sheffield Shield match that shocked the entire cricketing world, especially the Australian players. 

It was a tough moment for Michale Clarke as he was close to Phil Hughes and the world saw an emotional Michael Clarke who couldn’t hold back his tears during Phil Hughes’ eulogy. But only a week after, the world witnessed the gritty Michael Clarke who was back on the field and went on to score a blistering unbeaten 128 runs against India before retiring due to persistent back issues. 

 1. 329 against India- Sydney-2012 

Scoring a century is considered a feat in cricket, imagining tripling it up and that too against a formidable bowling line-up such as India. Michael Clarke brought up his highest individual test score against India in Sydney in 2012 when he bulldozed India with an unbeaten 329-run innings and played a significant role in Australia’s easy victory over India. 

Clarke came into bat when Australia was stranded at 37 for 3 towards the end of Day 1 of the match. However, it was all a Michale Clarke show as he toiled the Indian bowlers hard during the 2nd and 3rd days of the match and stitched important partnerships with Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting to push India out of the match. This marathon knock of Michael Clarke is arguably the best knock in Michael Clarke’s cricketing history.  

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