Michael Clarke had an outstanding career for Australia. Known as 'Pup' because of his boyish looks, diamond ear piercing, and bleach blonde hair, it didn't take long for the boy from Liverpool, New South Wales, to make his mark.
In a cricketing career spanning 12 years from 2003 to 2015, Clarke went on to play 115 tests scoring 8643 runs (fourth all-time amongst Australian batsmen) with an average of 49.10, including 28 centuries and 27 half-centuries.
In 244 One Day Internationals, he scored 7981 runs at a brilliant average of 44.58. Although he had numerous scrutiny on him during stages of his career, Clarke rose above it all to become one of Australia's classiest batsmen.
From an incredible 2012 to leading Australia to Ashes glory, Clarke's achievements speak for themselves.
Here are five memorable moments during his career.
1. 151 on test debut against India in Bangalore 2004
A fresh-faced Michael Clarke would burst onto the scene with a blaze of glory. After an excellent white-ball series in India a year earlier in which he was awarded Man of the Match in the Kolkata final, the then-23-year-old would make his test debut.
After Australia got off to an excellent start, India fought back into the contest. Enter Michael Clarke with the score at 4/149.
His first delivery he nervously came forward to defend a bouncing Anil Kumble spinner. Despite the early hiccup, he began to get comfortable even on a dusty Indian pitch. Showing all the shots, Clarke would take the challenge right up to both Kumble and Harbhajan Singh as he went down the ground combining with aggressive drives and lofts through the offside and onside.
Emphatically, he would bring up his maiden test century with a clip to the onside with his knock coming off 170 deliveries. Clarke's 151 consisting of 18 boundaries and four sixes would be crucial as Australia made 474, going on to win the test by 217 runs.
With this incredible achievement, Clarke became the 17th Australian player to achieve the feat. In an exemplary debut series, Clarke finished as the second-leading run-scorer with 400 runs at an average of 57.14 only behind teammate Damien Martyn.
