Michael Clarke: An Innings of Resilience

The final match of the 2014 three game test series between South Africa and Australia saw a display of resilience unlike many seen before.

Going into the final match, the series was level with Australia winning the first test and South Africa the second. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to post an imposing total to chase. They got off to a decent start, making 138 runs and only losing two batsmen. This brought captain Michael Clarke to the crease.

Clarke was a dangerously skilled batsman. He had the ability to stick around and make huge scores, evident in his high score of 329 against India in 2012. It was crucial for South Africa to get him out as early as possible; they handed the ball to Morne Morkle and the bowler got to work immediately.

Morkel bowled a swarm of aggressive short pitched deliveries at Clarke, striking the batsman a number of times. His left arm sustained a large bruise. It was unbelievable that he didn’t break a thumb following a subsequent impact, removing his glove to reveal blood pouring from a wound. One ball even ricocheted off his shoulder into his jaw, felling him to his knees. Yet each time Clarke was hit, he rose with a renewed sense of vigour, determined to push his country into a commanding position.

Speaking in retrospect to Cricket.com.au, Clarke recalled the moment he was struck in the head. He talks about the team’s medical staff performing a routine procedure, particularly checking for signs of concussion. However, Clarke remarked “as a player they would’ve had to drag me off”, a clear display of his mental toughness.

There was no other option than to take these blows. South Africa had set a clever field which restricted Clarke’s scoring options, deploying men to cover his cut and pull shot areas. This meant that he had to either take maximum risk with the aforementioned cut and pull shots or take a few blows.

The first day came to a close with Australia on 331/3, a fantastic start on which to build the following day. Clarke had successfully battled the aggressive bowling with his wicket intact and was closing in on a century, leaving the field on 92. But the extent of his pain was about reveal itself.

Clarke stated in an interview with Cricket.com.au that he “ended up falling asleep about quarter past one and I think I was on Alex’s (Kountouris – team physio) bench at about four o’clock in the morning with ice packs trying to sleep”. Unbeknownst to Clarke, his left shoulder had been fractured at the joint as a result of a bouncer from Morkle; he would only find out after returning to Australia post series.

"I had no choice, I had to go and bat we needed more runs." - Michael Clarke speaking to Cricket.com.au

Day two saw Clarke return to the crease sporting some added protection; an arm guard, placed over the nasty bruise he had sustained the previous day. Clarke batted well, securing his hundred seemingly unfazed by his shoulder. He continued on, never looking like getting dismissed as Australia raced towards five hundred runs.

The declaration came on 494/7 with Clarke not out on 161. Australia capitalised, bowling South Africa out for 287 before returning to bat, adding a quick 303 leaving South Africa with a mammoth chase of 511 runs.

Clarke’s involvement in the game wasn’t finished as he bowled five overs (30 balls) of left arm spin during South Africa’s second batting innings. When bowling spin, the bowling arm comes over as quick as a fast bowler’s to impart as much rotation on the ball as possible. The shoulder has to endure a huge amount of strain due to the speed and rotation of the bowling arm. Clarke’s already fractured shoulder was placed into this situation thirty times. Doing this once would have been excruciatingly painful and could’ve caused further complications to the fracture.

Even with adrenaline coursing through Clarke’s body, minimizing the amount of pain he experienced during his bowling spells, the fact that he was able to bowl at all was truly remarkable. The injury would’ve undoubtedly caused swelling and stiffness, severely limiting the range of movement in his arm. Yet, through sheer determination, Clarke powered through his pain and leading Australia to victory, bowling South Africa out for 265.