Clarke crowns dazzling year with century
Source: AFP |
December 28, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SKIPPER Michael Clarke further embossed his passing of Ricky Ponting's national calendar year scoring record with a ton against Sri Lanka in the second Melbourne test yesterday.
Clarke hit a fine leg boundary off the last ball before mid-afternoon drinks to raise his 22nd test century as Australia tightened the screws on the hapless Sri Lankans on the second day.
He was out soon for 106 when he was caught by rival skipper Mahela Jayawardene in the slips off Shaminda Eranga.
Clarke took his total runs for this year to 1,595 at 106.33 in Australia's final test match for 2012. In his 88th Test, he has scored 6,910 runs at 52.74.
"Numbers have never really bothered me too much," Clarke said. "It's nice to be making runs and leading by example as one of the leaders in the team and the captain of the team. But to me it's about winning games. If I am helping this team have success then I feel like that's part of my job. As long as we keep winning that's my priority."
It was 31-year-old Clarke's first century in a Melbourne Boxing Day test, the showpiece game of the Australian cricket season.
"It's nice to get that monkey off my back to get my first hundred here. I've always loved playing cricket at the MCG, it's a beautiful ground and I love Melbourne so its nice to finally have made a hundred here," he said.
Australia was 440-8 with a 284-run lead over Sri Lanka.
Clarke hit a fine leg boundary off the last ball before mid-afternoon drinks to raise his 22nd test century as Australia tightened the screws on the hapless Sri Lankans on the second day.
He was out soon for 106 when he was caught by rival skipper Mahela Jayawardene in the slips off Shaminda Eranga.
Clarke took his total runs for this year to 1,595 at 106.33 in Australia's final test match for 2012. In his 88th Test, he has scored 6,910 runs at 52.74.
"Numbers have never really bothered me too much," Clarke said. "It's nice to be making runs and leading by example as one of the leaders in the team and the captain of the team. But to me it's about winning games. If I am helping this team have success then I feel like that's part of my job. As long as we keep winning that's my priority."
It was 31-year-old Clarke's first century in a Melbourne Boxing Day test, the showpiece game of the Australian cricket season.
"It's nice to get that monkey off my back to get my first hundred here. I've always loved playing cricket at the MCG, it's a beautiful ground and I love Melbourne so its nice to finally have made a hundred here," he said.
Australia was 440-8 with a 284-run lead over Sri Lanka.
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