Michael Clarke return back on one of the best days of his career after securing his first Test series triumph as Australia captain and ending his long wait for a century. Clarke led from the front as his 112 on the fifth day of the third and final Test in Colombo helped Australia record a draw that sealed the series 1-0.
That meant a maiden Test series success at the first time of asking for Clarke after he restores Ricky Ponting as skipper after this winter's 3-1 Ashes defeat. It also followed on from Australia's 3-2 success in the one-day international matches against the Sri Lankans and, speaking after the draw, Clarke said:I'm pretty happy and I'm not the only one in that altering room, all the boys are stoked.
It's been a fantastic tour, both the one-day series and this Test series have certainly gone to plan.I said before the start of this Test match that our goal was to win every game we play, unluckily that didn't happen but we got the two major results, we won both series, so I'm really proud of how the boys have played and personally it was nice to finally get those three figures.
Everybody has contributed and that's possibly the most pleasing thing.He added:It's as special a day as I've had, no doubt. We put in a lot of work to come on this tour and perform well. It's certainly very special, as special as I've had in my career.
The tourists were finally bowled out 40 minutes before the listed close for 488 today, a lead of 331, with Clarke adding a century to the ton scored by opener Phillip Hughes (126) and Mike Hussey declining for 93. Rangana Herath claim career-best figures of seven for 157 but he could not halt the Australian charge in time to give his team a chance of success.
After Australia were dismissed, Sri Lanka had to bat out two over’s before the captain could shake hands, which they did with the hosts on seven for no wicket. It was Clarke's 15th Test century but first since his 168 against New Zealand in March 2010, and the 30-year-old admits it was long overdue.
It's been a long time since I'd scored a hundred. I've not scored as many runs as I would've liked during this Test series, so to get those three figures is such a great feeling after so long, he said. Clarke started the day winning on eight but he soon lost overnight partner Hughes during what the Australia skipper admit was a testing period.