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Cornered by a daunting target, Michael Clarke was left with no option but to attack. At the end of a summer when his batting has lurched from mediocre to awful and caused public support to veer sharply away from him, Clarke conjured one of his finest limited overs innings to shepherd Australia in their greatest run-chase.
Having struggled badly for momentum at the crease before he showed the first signs of improvement with a composed half-century in the previous game at the Gabba, Clarke unfurled all his shots at the SCG.
It was an approach forced by the magnitude of the goal and Clarke said he still had some way to go to locate his best.
“That’s two games in a row that’s happened, amazing,” Clarke said when informed he had made a sprightly start to the innings.
“My plans haven’t really changed. I think I’ve been pretty consistent over the last 12 months in one-day cricket.
“I think I know my game pretty well. It was just about getting some runs and getting some confidence.
“I don’t think I’m at my best but I think I’m getting there by making runs in the middle.
“I feel I’m improving with every game, like the side is.”
Before Clarke’s batting improved, his captaincy was bright and inventive, traits maintained by the promotion of Mitchell Johnson to No.4 at the SCG, where his tidy 57 kept the target within sight.
“It was my idea, yeah,” said Clarke.
“I just thought he was the only left-hander in our side and I was confident that if Mitch mis-hits the ball he could still get a couple over the rope.
“It was more a game situation, we were chasing a big total, we had to gamble and fortunately it paid off.
“He played a really good innings through the powerplay then rotated the strike really well in the middle when they had five fielders out.”
Clarke’s contribution was aided by a supportive crowd at his home ground and he was warm in his appreciation.
“To make some runs is always satisfying and to make them in front of my family and friends, my home crowd, I love playing at the SCG,” Clarke said.
“I’ve had a lot of support from a lot of people, they just don’t happen to be in the paper I guess.”
Clarke was perhaps never lower this summer than when a 15-year-old bright spark offered him numerous tips on batting technique before game two of the series in Hobart.
Possibly with that in mind, Clarke made it clear he had not changed a thing about his preparation or his batting.
“Absolutely zero,” he said.
“I’ve not changed my game, I’ve not changed my training, I feel like I’ve worked my absolute backside off this summer.
“It’s just nice to get some runs last game and contribute again. It’s a nice feeling.”
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