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.
3. Three wickets in the dying moments of the infamous 2008 Sydney Test
The Sydney Test between Australia and India lives on as one of the most controversial in the history of test cricket. From Andrew Symonds edging an Ishant Sharma delivery only for Umpire Steve Bucknor to remain unmoved, to Harbhajan Singh's racial comments to Symonds, the test had it all.
With the match heading deep into the fifth and final day and a draw more imminent by the minute, Australia needed a hero. That man would be Michael Clarke.
Still needing three wickets in less than 15 minutes, Clarke began his wizardry. His first ball would be a ripper hitting the rough patch and then all of a sudden generating extra bounce surprising Singh who could only watch the ball catch his glove straight to Michael Hussey at first slip.
Now with Australia hunting hard to prize the remaining two wickets, Clarke would strike again. His second delivery to new batsman RP Singh was the identical speed to the previous ball, only this time it was straighter. Failing to pick up the line and length, Singh would play all around the delivery as Clarke and the whole team appealed in unison, Umpire Mark Benson raised his finger.
Clarke now on a hat-trick, and the contest all of a sudden had swung in Australia's direction. With the crowd fully behind the action, Clarke's next two deliveries would be negated by Ishant Sharma.
But not the fifth ball.
After mixing different varieties with his first four deliveries, Clarke this time would throw it a little wider. And it worked.
Looking to defend the ball on the offside, Sharma could only watch as the ball ripped through the outside edge straight into Hussey's waiting hands. A masterstroke ploy by skipper Ricky Ponting, coinciding with haunting nightmares for Indian supporters after Clarke's 6/9 four years earlier.
