Michael John Clarke (born 2 April 1981) is an Australian
cricketer. He was appointed captain of the
Test and
ODI teams on 30 March 2011. Nicknamed 'Pup', he is a right-handed
batsman, and occasional
left-arm orthodox spin bowler. Clarke was also stand-in captain for the final Test of the
2010–11 Ashes series.
Career
He made his debut for
New South Wales as an eighteen-year-old in the 1999–2000 Australian domestic season. Clarke made his
One Day International debut in January 2003 against
England at Adelaide.
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 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...
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