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In 2011, Michael Clarke made one of the most superb hundreds you will ever witness at Cape Town, while the rest of his teammates struggled to hit the ball.
Three years later, he returned, making one of the grittiest hundreds anyone will ever see.
The innings was nothing like the Michael Clarke of old. It reflected none of the class or elegance that the Australian captain usually posses. The innings was ugly, it was hard-fought and it was gutsy.
Coming into the match, Clarke was under extreme scrutiny after failing to score a hundred since his first innings heroics at the Adelaide Oval.
Facing up to the likes of Morne Morkel and his 150 km/h lightning bolts would be no easy task, and it soon started to look that way.
Body blows were taken, and many fans would have been reminded of Brian Close and his innings against the likes of Michael Holding and co.
Shots to the helmet and unprotected forearm grounded the Australian skipper, but he batted on.
Clarke has had many career defining innings, but this one would surely be his most memorable.
Often criticised throughout his early career of being a ‘flat-track bully’, scoring runs when the opposition’s already on its knees, Clarke played a Chris Rogers-like innings of working hard for his runs, and taking many blows upon his body for his nation.
He is now among the elite of the greatest Australian batsmen to ever wear the baggy green. The courage that he has showed has now proven that he is a symbol of Australian cricket.
The determination and fight showed by Clarke is reminiscent of the bravery shown by previous captains such as Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
His innings now sets up the whole Test match for his bowlers, and a Test series win.
His team is full of potential. The combination of Warner and Rogers is working well, Doolan has immense potential and Smith shows that he can bat a class above the rest.
Clarke’s innings proves he is now a symbol of Australian cricket, and should make his teammates and his whole nation proud to be an Australian.
With the talents of Australian cricket starting to shine through, and though Clarke’s leadership, the number one Test ranking can surely not be too far away.
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