Ashes 2013: Top five batsmen in the series

4. Michael Clarke (Australia – 381 runs)

Michael Clarke of Australia hits out during day four of the 3rd Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground on August 4, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The Australian captain didn’t cause enough damage with the bat in the first Test, scoring only 23 runs in the entire game. He found some form with a sedate half-century in the second innings of the Lord’s Test, but couldn’t prevent another defeat.

In the game at Manchester, the embattled skipper responded to his critics with a magnificent innings of 187 – scoring exactly the same number of runs that the late Stan McCabe made during the Bodyline series. His effort ensured that Australia had a large enough total on the board, but a controversial umpiring decision ensured that England escaped with a draw to retain the Ashes.

His captaincy, called into question after defeats in the first two games, was spot-on in the final match when he sportingly declared Australia’s second innings to give his side a chance of winning – and it was Pietersen’s brilliance that put paid to his hopes.

Nevertheless, the right-hander ended up scoring 381 runs in the series, but would have wanted at least a single win to lessen some of the pain.