Congratulations to England for regaining the Ashes so convincingly after thrashing Australia in the first Test in Cardiff, in the third Test in Birmingham and yesterday in the Ashes-losing fourth Test in Nottingham.
Although expected, the retirement of Australian skipper Michael Clarke after the final Test at The Oval next fortnight added to my sadness.
For not only is he a terrific batsman and an inspiring captain but also a good bloke. I had the pleasure to bowl to him in the nets a few years ago and he did not hit me all over the park to keep me happy!
Like Raymond of the television series, almost everybody loves ‘Pup’ Clarkey.
One hopes he goes out on a high note at The Oval and his Test swansong is as memorable as his Test debut when he had scored a scintillating century in the Bangalore Test against India in October 2004.
That series had many heroes, but none as sensational as 23-year-old Clarke who apart from smashing a century in his Test debut had marvellous figures of 6 for 9 in his fourth Test.
The first Test in Bangalore in 2004 will be remembered as much for Clarke’s stunning debut as Australia’s convincing win by 217 runs. Australia totalled 474 with hundreds by Clarke and Adam Gilchrist who added 167 sparkling runs for the sixth wicket.
Clarke’s 151 came off 248 balls and he hit 18 fours and four sixes. When he was on 98 he replaced his helmet with the baggy green which he kissed when reaching his ton.
The fourth Test in Mumbai was an intriguing cliff-hanger. Despite Clarke’s magical figures of 6 for 9 off 6.2 overs, Australia lost the Test but won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.
An ambidextrous cricketer, Clarke batted right-handed and bowled his spinners left-handed. But he considered himself a batsman and hardly bowled later in his career due to several injuries.
Clarke went on to score a century in his first Test on Australian soil, 141 against New Zealand in the November 2004 Brisbane Test.
A star had arrived on the scene and for almost ten years he remained on top.
The 100th Test on the SCG in January 2012 was marked by a marvellous and unbeaten triple century by skipper Clarke. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey also hit hundreds.
Clarke broke many records in this Test. His unbeaten 329 off 468 balls was the only Test triple hundred on the SCG and the third highest on the ground after Don Bradman’s 452 not out (NSW v. Queensland, 1929-30) and 340 not out (NSW v. Victoria, 1928-29).
Man of the Match Clarke hit 39 fours and a six in his master class which lasted 10 hours and nine minutes.
He could have gone on to become the highest scorer for Australia in Tests (Matthew Hayden 380 v. Zimbabwe at Perth in 2003-04) and the highest ever (Brian Lara 400 not out, West Indies v. England, St John’s also in 2003-04) but he put the interest of his team over personal milestone by declaring at 4 for 659.
The fourth and final Test in Adelaide was a run bonanza with two double centuries by Australians as they amassed a huge score, 7 declared for 604; Ponting (221 in 516 minutes) and Clarke (210 in 380 minutes) adding a massive 386 for the fourth wicket. This was the highest partnership in an Adelaide Test.
Clarke became the third batsman to score a triple and a double hundred in the same series after Bradman in 1930 and 1934 against England in England and England’s Wally Hammond against New Zealand in 1932-33.
As we bid farewell to Michael Clarke a fortnight later, let us remember him for his prolific batting from 2004-05 to 2013-14 and not for his recent slide.
In 114 Tests, he scored 8626 runs at 49.30 with 28 centuries (highest score e29 not out) and took 31 wickets at 38.19 and 131 catches.
Thank you Pup, and happy retirement. I hope you score your 29th century in The Oval Test to be on par with Don Bradman.
Chris
Guest
No point letting him play the 5th test. As Mark Waugh said "Just drop me, if I retire now it will look too obvious".
Chris
Guest
Hayden and Hussey both had the capacity to score runs outside of Australia. Clarke's average was massively inflated by his ability to terrorise a sub-standard Indian attack in Australia.
rock
Roar Rookie
He's most definitely better then Hayden and Hussey
Kersi Meher-Homji
Expert
Clarke's positives as a captain and batsman far outweigh his minuses. Australians should be proud of his achievements.
rock
Roar Rookie
Geez your grandma must be a handy cricketer........ Millionaire gutless wonder, tall poppy syndrome at it's finest. Yep geez he is a gutless wonder, when he took over the captaincy role he was the only one who put up any fight for the 2 years we were getting beaten, had it not been for him there would have been plenty of 60 all outs after the golden era. I'd love to have 10 other gutless wonders like him, hate all you want, his career speaks for itself & that is why he gets to decide when he wants to retire.
rock
Roar Rookie
Don't let biased hatred get in the way of facts where we won 3 out of 5 test series and a world cup under Clarke in the past 2 years. I love how all the haters knew exactly what went on in the rooms and how Katich handled himself, although Clarke is an easy scapegoat so go for it......
Gav
Guest
Geez sincerely sorry mate his no 8 behind Border, with blokes who played over 50 matches. Terribly inaccurate of me.
Pumped up
Guest
Knew something was up. There has always been a stench attached to Clarke ... see front page of today's Courier Mail. He has just never been totally honest. The Katich incident. How he stabbed Andrew Symonds (his supposed best mate in the back) etc etc ...
Birdy
Guest
As a pom there are obviously many things to like about how the recent Ashes series panned out. One of the sweetest though is to end the career of three arrogant tools in Haddin, Watson and Clarke. Sorry to see Harris go, a great bowler and by all accounts a reasonable bloke. But the other three have strutted and spread poison around the international game for years. I think England should receive a special award for services to cricket.
bigmick1
Guest
"His average and performance over a long career, place him up there with our best 6 or so batsman" Let's see...Bradman, Chappell, Ponting, Hussey, Waugh, Hayden, Border...um, nope, sorry.
bigmick1
Guest
"Do tell who would have replaced Clarke?" My grandmother, for starters. Guy has been the worst performing mainstay batsmen in world cricket these past 12 months. Bar none. He is coming off the worst shot amongst the shortest test innings in the entire history of test cricket. My gran could do a whole lot better. These millionaire gutless wonders that think they can dictate when they can and can't retire are a big problem. Good riddance pup.
Gav
Guest
Not really a fan of Clarkes, but I will make these points /concessions 1- The 160 odd he made against SA was phenomenal and everything we love to see in our sportsman 2- His leadership during, and knock in Adelaide, post Phil Hughes passing was highly admirable. 3- His average and performance over a long career, place him up there with our best 6 or so batsman 4- His retirement was perfect timing and very unselfish See ya later Clarkey! Now bring on the youth and let's get ready to watch some new superstars develop......in time!
Correction
Guest
I was one of the 'Booers' at the MCG. From our point of view we resented how he was given the reigns to the team even though he was clearly unsuited to leadership and this showed with issues with Katich, who we needed at the time. Good riddance Pup, you were there two years too long.
rock
Roar Rookie
Oh please! Do tell who would have replaced Clarke? I love people trying to make this whole series the fault of Clarke. Did he fail in his batting, yes, so did the whole middle order and our bowlers consistency. So yeah since Clarke batted and bowled in every position, it was he's fault......
richardislip
Guest
Clarke and the Aussie selectors, preferred to lose the Ashes....rather than have no Clarke in the side. How sensible is that? About as sensible as giving Clarke " a swansong " in the final test. Just give it away, Australia. This is a guy who is clearly no longer up for the battle, and admits it. Hey, this is supposed to be tough, ruthless...professional sport, at the highest level. No room for passengers. It matters not at all about past deeds, or whether or not you are a nice guy. Clarkie.........drop yourself now....one test too late.......and your name really will be remembered. Put Australia before yourself. Don't use the word stubborn in place of ego.
rock
Roar Rookie
Yeah the whole hatred behind Clarke's personality is baffling. Here's a comment for all that dislike him because of his values, guess what the generation of today isn't like the old days - get over it, because it ain't coming back. He was a tactical captain, that worked damn hard and is easily in our top 10 batsmen ever. Thanks Clarkey
Johnnyball
Guest
It was wait for team song Matty not guzzle grog.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Kersi, Nice tribute. I've typed an accompanying article on The Roar about the tribulations of test captains from 1967 (when I started following cricket) to present. Very few, even from 1967 to now, have gone out on their terms precisely. Lawry was sacked without pre-warning, Hughes resigned in tears, Chappelli went too early determined not to suffer Lawry's fate, Border was denied a future guarantee, while a couple of others decided to go before they were pushed. One thing I've noticed is the growing fickleness of Aussie cricket fans. Perhaps we're becoming contemptuous through over-familiarity. Fans wanted Ponting to replace Waugh when they felt Waugh had hung around too long. Then fans wanted Clarke to replace Ponting when they felt Ponting had hung around too long. Now they want Smith to replace Clarke because they reckon Clarke has hung around too long. How much good grace will Smith get?
B2
Guest
Cricket is a Gentleman's game but the Game of cricket can be very barbaric when it is time for you to go.At the peak of your career you are put on a pedestal and some are likened to God.But come the hour when the Game decides your future with her is over the ball always finds the edge or goes through bat and pad for you to hear the death rattle.However hard you try it only gets worse and cricket becomes a nightmare you wish would end. Your swansong is still to play out so try and go out on a high, You played to the best of your ability and led your team to famous victories Micheal Clarke, those are the moments you will cherish , forget the rest and live your life knowing you gave it your best shot..
mattyb
Guest
Divisive in what way?.If someone wants to have a fist fight with a bloke because he wants to spend his time with his family after work rather than drink multiple alcoholic beverages where would sane people lay the blame.