Michael Clarke, the former captain of Australia and the captain of the 2015 ODI World Cup, was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame recently. Clarke became the 64th cricket player to be awarded this esteemed accolade when the announcement was made on January 23 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
At the tender age of 17, Clarke made his New South Wales first-class debut. He played in 34 T20Is, 245 ODIs, and 115 Test matches during his career, amassing more than 17,000 international runs. He finished sixth on Australia’s all-time list with 8,643 runs in Test matches and fourth with 7,981 runs in ODIs.
“I’m honored to be able to sit next to so many amazing athletes, role models, and idols who I looked up to as a child. Retirement changes you in many ways. You now miss chunks of watching cricket as it progresses. People talk about your international career when you’re playing at the top level, but for me, it began when I was six years old. It was my life since I retired at the age of 34. I still live with it,” Clarke said.
Cricket and life in general are very similar: Michael Clarke
During the 2011–12 series, the former hammered 28 Test hundreds, including an undefeated 329 against India at the SCG. In addition, he made a number of memorable runs, including the stunning 161 against South Africa in Cape Town in 2014 despite a fractured shoulder, the poignant 128 in Adelaide in 2014 soon after Phillip Hughes’ untimely death, and the 151 on his Test debut in Bengaluru in 2004.
In his 47 Test matches as captain, Michael Clarke led Australia to notable victories. These included defeating England 5-0 in the 2013–14 Ashes series and winning the 2015 ODI World Cup, which culminated in a victory against New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“Cricket and life in general are probably very similar. The 43-year-old continued, “You walk out, make 100, then lift the bat, walk out to field, field in slip, and drop a catch second ball of the game.”
Peter King, the chairman of the Hall of Fame, spoke of Clarke’s valor at the SCG and commended his commitment to Australian cricket.
“At the age of 17, Michael began his incredible first-class playing career at the SCG, where he achieved several highlights, such as a Test triple century against India in 2012.” The Australian audience will always have positive memories of Michael’s career, and he will be regarded as one of the best in our game,” King stated.
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