Clarke becomes first batsman to score four double centuries in calendar year
Adelaide: Michael Clarke set a benchmark in Test cricket that surpasses even the great Don Bradman's best years when he stroked his fourth double century of 2012 with a stunning, unbeaten 224 against South Africa. It was a recently as January last year that an Australian crowd booed him as he walked on to the field during a barren patch. On Thursday, he had 16,500 people on their feet applauding him at the Adelaide Oval for becoming the first batsmen to ever score four double centuries in a calendar year.
The Australia captain has now scored a combined 483 runs in two innings without getting out against South Africa, the No. 1-ranked team in the world. The 31-year-old Clarke started the year with a career-high knock of 329 not out at Sydney and 210 at Adelaide in January against India. His two more against South Africa take him past the usually incomparable Bradman, who scored three double centuries in an Ashes series in England in 1930. While Bradman's Test average of 99.94 is out of every modern batsman's reach, Clarke certainly deserves credit for his form since assuming the captaincy from Ricky Ponting after the 2011 World Cup
Adelaide: Michael Clarke set a benchmark in Test cricket that surpasses even the great Don Bradman's best years when he stroked his fourth double century of 2012 with a stunning, unbeaten 224 against South Africa. It was a recently as January last year that an Australian crowd booed him as he walked on to the field during a barren patch. On Thursday, he had 16,500 people on their feet applauding him at the Adelaide Oval for becoming the first batsmen to ever score four double centuries in a calendar year.
The Australia captain has now scored a combined 483 runs in two innings without getting out against South Africa, the No. 1-ranked team in the world. The 31-year-old Clarke started the year with a career-high knock of 329 not out at Sydney and 210 at Adelaide in January against India. His two more against South Africa take him past the usually incomparable Bradman, who scored three double centuries in an Ashes series in England in 1930. While Bradman's Test average of 99.94 is out of every modern batsman's reach, Clarke certainly deserves credit for his form since assuming the captaincy from Ricky Ponting after the 2011 World Cup
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