On Thursday, at Sydney Cricket Ground, Michael Clarke was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame and became the 64th cricketer to be honored. The grime of 12 years was embedded into the former skipper, who, during his overall run of 115 Tests, 245 ODIs, and 34 real T20s since crossing into international cricket, totted up a topping of 17,113. He’s left being remembered for leading the Australians through 47 Tests, including the notable 5-0 Ashes sweep of 2013-14, and steering the team aboard the move that saw it capture the ODI World Cup prominently on its home soil in 2015, assiduously just before retiring from the game.
There are 28 Test centuries, the sixth-most by an Australian; among these are the 329*, a magnificent knock against India at the SCG; the 151 on debut in Bengaluru; the stunning 151 delivered in Cape Town; and the deeply moving 128 forced upon his teammates in Adelaide with Hughes’ death deeply fresh in their minds.
“To sit here next to all the terrific players, idols, role models I grew up watching, is a great honour for me,” Clarke articulated. Retirement does quite a number on you. You miss so much of it when you view cricket at different stages in life. Perhaps people talk about your career internationally, but mine started when I was six. Because I retired at 34, it was my life. Still and forever, it is my life”.
“Cricket, it’s probably so similar to life in general. You walk out and make 100 and then lift the bat, and then you walk out to field, field in slip and drop a catch second ball of the game.”
Spaking at the induction, Hall of Fame chairman Peter King said: “Michael’s extraordinary first-class playing career started at just 17 at the SCG – the place where many of his highlights occurred, including a Test triple century against India in 2012”.
“Clarke’s career will forever be cherished fondly by the people of Australia and will be counted amongst the greats of the game.”
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