Clarke has strong case for Test retention with Ashes century by CricketArchive staff reporter

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Scorecard:	Australia v England
Player:	MJ Clarke
Event:	England in Australia 2006/07

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DateLine: 4th December 2006

 

Michael Clarke has given selectors every incentive to leave him in the Australian team and look elsewhere to make way for the likely return of all-rounder Shane Watson after his stylish century in the second Ashes Test against England here Monday.

 

Clarke, who returned to the Test side as a late replacement for the injured Watson before the Brisbane Test, gratefully seized his opportunity with an exquisite 124 in 319 minutes, with 10 fours. In all probability, Australia have killed off England's winning chances after whittling down the tourists' 551 for six declared with a first innings reply of 513 heading into the final day. At Monday's close, England, batting a second time, were 59 for one with Andrew Strauss not out 31 and Ian Bell on 18 to hold an overall lead of 97 runs. Clarke claimed his third Test century and first in Ashes encounters and shared in healthy partnerships of 98 with Adam Gilchrist (64) and 118 with Shane Warne (43) to bat Australia to safety. The 25-year-old right-hander from New South Wales scored 56 in the first innings in Brisbane and his hundred in Adelaide to consolidate his place in the Australian side. Selection pressure builds, meanwhile, on the under-achieving No.4 Damien Martyn, should Watson recover from his hamstring injury to be available for the Perth Test. Clarke made a considerable down payment on keeping his place in the Test team with his century. "I knew that my opportunities were going to be limited in this series and I had to perform," Clarke said. "I had to score runs to put forward my case to the selectors and I think I've done that. It's very tough for the selectors and that's why for me I just tried to make sure I made the most of the opportunities I've been given in Brisbane and here, because I knew if Watto (Watson) was fit I wouldn't be playing. I'm rapt with the way I've been going personally, but it's completely up to the selectors." Known as "Pup" by his teammates, Clarke holds the distinction of scoring a century in his first away Test, with a debut 151 against India in Bangalore in October 2004, followed by 141 in his first home Test against New Zealand in Brisbane the following month. He played a total of 20 Tests, including all of last year's Ashes series, before he was dropped after scores of 5, 14 and 5 in the first two Tests against the West Indies in the last Australian summer. Clarke was recalled for two Tests in Bangladesh last April before his late call-up for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba. "I think I've worked out a better way to score runs against the English attack," Clarke said. "I think conditions here are a lot different to England and the bowling's a lot different. Having that experience in England 15 months ago facing such a good attack put me in good stead for knowing what I'm up against, to know that it was going to be tough cricket. Fifteen months ago I would have been a lot more impatient, but after going through that and failing in England I knew I had to take my time and be patient." Martyn's place in the team has become vulnerable after scores of 29 and 11 in this series following last year's mediocre series in England, where he scored just 178 in five Tests at 19.77.