Michael Clarke : Australia's best man

The Allan Border medal that is famed to be the most esteemed individual prize in Australian Cricket was presented to Michael Clarke yesterday at the Crown Casino in Melbourne. Clarke, in his first year as Captain, proved to be Australia’s best performer and won the medal for the third time. It added to Clarke’s tally for the night, he also won the Test player of the year award, beating Mike Hussey by 57 votes and Watson by 65. Clarke has scored almost 2000 runs in the year in both the formats at an average of 65. In what turned out to be a fitting scenario for Australia’s new hierarchy, Shane Watson won the awards for the T20 and ODI player of the year.

In what has been a terrific year for Clarke in the Test arena, he has scored 1167 runs at an average of 68.64. Ever since Clarke took over the captaincy from Ricky Ponting, like his predecessors, it has only brought out the best in him – some wither under the pressure of captaincy, but Clarke is thriving on the additional responsibility given to him. Clarke has scored centuries in all four series that he has captained ever since the World Cup and was the highest run-scorer in the series against South Africa, New Zealand and India.

Saving his best for the last, in the home Test series against India, his unbeaten 329 at the SCG was the fourth highest score by an Australian. Following which he scored a double century at Adelaide, becoming the first Captain to ever score a double century and a triple century in the same Test series. Adopting an extremely professional outlook approaching every game has seen Clarke and his team experience success once again, having seen little of it in the recent past. They have been enduring a transitional phase, not having lost a series. His insatiable quest for success has perhaps played a part in the Australian captain performing out of his skin.

Clarke has led from the front in the past year which has only seen the team blossom under the performances by the skipper. Clarke is perceived as quite a ‘softie’ when compared to the robust personalities of the former captains, which did not make him a favorite with the Australian public. But the recent individual performances, coupled with positive and imaginative captaincy style and his dedication to the team has earned him some supporters who are willing to look beyond his ‘pretty boy’ image. The benchmark Clarke has set for himself and the team seems to be pretty steep to settle for the mediocre; the only way forward appears to be aiming higher and performing better.

A few of the high points since Clarke took over as captain include:

A brave and fighting 151 off 284 balls in the first innings of the infamous Tests against South Africa when Australia were bowled out for 47 in their second innings.

In his first home Test as captain, he scored 139 against New Zealand at the Gabba.

His legendary 329* against India at Sydney, followed by an impressive 210 in Adelaide, to complete the 4-0 whitewash against the Indians.

Clarke won the Test player of the Year award scoring 1167 runs, 328 more than next best Mike Hussey.

It was Clarke’s first win as Test player of the year, after he took over the captaincy from Ponting having displayed his maturity as a leader and captain.

His domineering average of 68.65 came after five centuries in 18 innings. His career-best 329* against India at the SCG was the highlight of all the feats over last year – the fourth highest score ever by an Australian in Test cricket.