Michael Clarke today became the first man in Test history to score four double centuries in a calendar year as Australia’s batsman dominated day one of the Second Test against South Africa in Adelaide.
Clarke (above, celebrating his double century), who hit 259 not out in the drawn series opener, ended unbeaten on 224 from 243 deliveries, with 39 fours and a six.
Australia posted an imposing 482 for five, with opener David Warner (119) and veteran Michael Hussey (103) also hitting centuries.
When Clarke arrived at the crease, South Africa, who had lost the toss, were well in the game having struck early to leave the home side on 55 for three.
But while there were failures for Ed Cowan, Rob Quiney and Ricky Ponting, Warner and Clarke led the fightback superbly.
Jacques Kallis, who later limped off with a hamstring injury, took the first wicket of the day, trapping Cowan plumb in front of the stumps and also claiming a return catch after the ball hit the bat — with the latter dismissal taking precedence under the laws of the game.
Morne Morkel added the wicket of Quiney and Australia were soon three down when Kallis removed Ponting for four. At the other end, Warner was scoring freely and found a willing partner in Clarke as the pair moved the score to 102 by lunch.
The start of the afternoon session was the start of the carnage, Warner taking 10 off Imran Tahir in the first over and then reaching his 100 in 93 balls after another Tahir over leaked 17. The pair added 99 runs in the first 10 overs after the resumption.
Warner eventually fell, edging Morkel to Graeme Smith to halt the partnership at 155 but Hussey wasted no time finding his stride.Clarke cut Tahir for four just before tea to seal yet another century. The tourists suffered another blow when Dale Steyn left the pitch for treatment in the evening session and with Tahir and Rory Kleinvedlt looking well short of Test class, Australia cashed in.
They added 202 runs before stumps, with Clarke smashing Morkel for five fours in a single over to move past 150. Clarke’s double hundred came with a single off his 226th ball and when Hussey thrashed the very next delivery from Tahir for six, he joined his skipper on three figures.
Steyn, having returned to the field, broke the 272-run partnership when he bowled Hussey with the last ball of the day.
What a year ...
1265 runs
140.55 average
4 centuries
329no v India in Sydney, January
210 v India in Adelaide, January
259no v South Africa in Brisbane, November
224no v South Africa in Adelaide, today
