Australia's captain Michael Clarke

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Pup’s perfect day at the SCG

Michael Clarke’s record-breaking day at the wicket leaves India with a tough target to chase.

AS he was belting India around the SCG today, reaching a new milestone almost with every forceful push or thrash of his blade, Michael Clarke appeared to be showing little respect for the Indian bowlers in a Test match. But ultimately, as he cut his innings short prematurely, he showed much respect for the milestone just a thwack over the ropes away.

Clarke declared his momentous innings just five runs short of the highest Test score by an Australian captain, the 334 not out by Mark Taylor against Pakistan in Peshawar in 1998-99. Taylor had declared that innings short himself, not wanting to place himself ahead of the Australia’s greatest cricketer Don Bradman.

Michael Clarke is seven runs shy of his first triple century in Test cricket at the lunch break.

Michael Clarke is seven runs shy of his first triple century in Test cricket at the lunch break. Photo: Brendan Esposito

It was clear that Clarke, on this occasion, did not want to place himself ahead of his team. And thus today he still sits behind both Taylor and Bradman, content with what he had managed to do up until then.

And his team will thank him. Paceman Ben Hilfenhaus’s two wickets have put the foot down on India’s throat, although they are still to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar, who is chasing his own milestone of 100 international centuries. Surely, India will need the Little Master to finally reach his ton of tons in order for the Australians to bat again.

Tendulkar (8*), will be joined at the crease tomorrow by Gautam Gambhir (68*), with India 2-114 still 354 runs short of Australia’s first-innings total of 4-659. Gambhir had a late scare today, being dropped by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, while on 66, in the penultimate over off the bowling of James Pattinson.

Michael Hussey is third Australian to score a century this innings.

Michael Hussey is third Australian to score a century this innings. Photo: Brendan Esposito

It meant Australia’s day would end on a poor note, but there were so few of them it is unlikely to trouble them for long. That Clarke would harpoon so many records during the Sydney Cricket Ground’s 100th Test match is fitting. But it is rather unexpected, considering the only milestone being spoken of in the build-up to this match was Tendulkar’s.

But today was Clarke’s day, as he and Mike Hussey (150 not out) punished a limp Indian attack.

It was unclear whether Clarke deliberately declared his innings short of the milestones. He and Hussey – who became the third centurion of the innings – left the field at the drinks break in the middle session, after the pair put on a partnership of 334.


The greatest cricketer of all, Donald Bradman, made 304 at Leeds in 1934. He also made 299 not out against India in Adelaide in 1932.
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The 300 Men

The greatest cricketer of all, Donald Bradman, made 304 at Leeds in 1934. He also made 299 not out against India in Adelaide in 1932.

  • The greatest cricketer of all, Donald Bradman, made 304 at Leeds in 1934. He also made 299 not out against India in Adelaide in 1932.
  • Australian left-handed opener Bob Cowper made 307 at the MCG against England in February, 1966, resisting for 589 balls.
  • Virender Sehwaghit 39 fours in his 309 against Pakistan at Multan in 2004.
  • Englishman John Edrich made 310 not out against New Zealand at Leeds in 1965.
  • Bob Simpson made 311 in 13 hours in the fourth Test against England in 1964 at Manchester.
  • Pakistan's cricketer Younis Khan capped his fine career with 313 against Sri Lanka at Karachi in 2009.
  • West Indies master blaster Chris Gayle smashed 317 against South Africa at St John's in 2005.
  • Indian opener Virender Sehwag made 319 off just 304 balls against South Africa at Chennai, 2008.
  • Pakistan star Inzamam-ul-Haq made 329 against New Zealand at Lahore in 2003.
  • Australia's captain Michael Clarke modestly declared whilst in full flight, at 329 not out, in the second Test against India in January, 2012
  • West Indies batsman Chris Gayle celebrates after scoring a triple century in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010. Fair to say the West Indies team is missing this talent.
  • Burly England opener Graham Gooch amasssed 333 against India at Lord's in 1990.
  • Aussie skipper Mark Taylor equalled Don Bradman's Australian record for an individual test innings with an unbeaten 334 against Pakistan at Peshawar in 1998.
  • Don Bradman held the record for the highest scoring Australian in a Test match for 68 years, after he made 334 at Leeds in 1930.
  • England legend Walter Hammond made 336 not out, including ten sixes, against New Zealand at Auckland in 1933
  • Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad tortured the West Indies for 970 minutes in 1958, scoring 337.
  • Brilliant Sri Lankan left-hander Sanath Jayasuriya made 340 against India at Colombo, in 1997.
  • Len Hutton held the record for the highest score for 20 years after making 364 not out for England against Australia at the Oval in 1938.
  • Extraordinary West Indies all-rounder Gary Sobers smashed 365 against pakistan at Kingston in 1968, to take over the record for the highest-ever Test innings by an individual from Len Hutton.
  • Mahela Jayawardene (374) and Kumar Sangakkara (287) put on a record partnership of 624 runs during the first test against South Africa in Colombo on July 29, 2006.
  • Aussie opener Matthew Hayden bludgeoned the Zimbabwe attack at perth in 2003, recording the second-highest score of all time, (at the time the greatest): 380, off 437 balls.
  • Australia v Zimbabwe, October 10, 2003 in Perth.
  • 18 April 1994: England v West Indies, Antigua. Brian Lara creates cricket history by breaking Gary Sobers' 26-year-old Test inning record score by belting 375.
  • West Indies captain Brian Lara is greeted by teammates after beating the world's highest score in test cricket against England in 20004, months after Matthew Hayden took the record from him.
  • The scorers put up the final score, with West Indies star Brian Lara on 400 not out, the highest ever test score, during day three of the fourth Test match between the West Indies and England at the Recreation Ground on April 12, 2004 in St Johns, Antigua.
  • Lara made 400 not out off 582 balls, with 43 fours and four sixes.

What was clear was that, after bringing up his triple century, with a trademark flick off his pads from Ishant Sharma, his intent was to quicken the pace. He threw his for now unsponsored bat at almost everything, appearing like he was damning those records within reach and chasing what was the most important thing for him, an Australian victory.

That said, he was breaking them at such a rate he might have grown tired of the whole thing.

Starting the day on 251, Clarke’s progress was slow early on in the first session, although no-one quickens their pace in the final stages of an Everest climb. In ‘anything you can do, I can do better’ fashion, he registered a record over another ex Australian captain, beating Ricky Ponting’s best score for an Australian against India (257 in Melbourne in 2003-04). Clarke combined with Ponting (134) for a partnership of 288 late Tuesday and yesterday. He has also scored the highest score by an individual in an Australia-India Test, surpassing VVS Laxman’s 281 at Kolkata in 2000-01.

Next came the highest score at the SCG, surpassing Englishman Reg ‘Tip’ Foster’s 287 at the ground against the Australians in 1903-04. He brought up that milestone with a drive forward of point for four.

And then the triple. Clarke brought up his first 300 just after lunch, dropping his bat after scoring the run and throwing his arms into the air in delight.

But not long after all that, it was over. And it was over to the bowlers. Hilfenhaus tempted Sehwag into hitting a wide one to David Warner, who caught brilliantly at point to leave the Indians 1-18. And then just after the final drinks break, Hilfenhaus got through the revered Rahul Dravid wall, bowling him superbly for 29.

Advantage Australia – but we knew that already.

The highest-ever Test scores – click here