Michael Clarke inducted into Australia's Hall of Fame: A leader and batter par excellence

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has been inducted into the prestigious Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of the game's greats.

Clarke, now 43, received the honour on Thursday, nearly a decade after he retired from international cricket, capping off a remarkable career that saw him establish himself as one of the sport's most accomplished players.

Clarke became the 64th member of the Hall of Fame, with two more names to be added later this season. His induction is a fitting tribute to his illustrious career, one that saw him make history on numerous occasions as a player and leader.

Michael Clarke reacts

"To be able to sit along so many wonderful players, idols, role models growing up as a kid and looking up to is something I'm honoured by," Clarke said.

"Retirement does a lot of things to you. Through stages of watching cricket now, you miss parts.

"When you play at the highest level, people talk about your international career but for me, it started at six years of age.

"I retired at 34 so it was my life. It's still a part of my life."

"You walk out and make 100 and then lift the bat, and then you walk out to field, field in slip and drop a catch second ball of the game."

A Glorious Career

Making his first-class debut for New South Wales at just 17, Clarke's rise through the ranks was swift. He made an immediate impact on the international stage during Australia's 2004 tour of India, scoring an impressive 151 runs in the first innings of his debut Test match in Bengaluru. From there, Clarke's career soared, with the Sydney native establishing himself as one of the most consistent middle-order batsmen of his generation.

Clarke's leadership abilities were also evident early on. In 2011, he succeeded the legendary Ricky Ponting as captain of Australia. Under his stewardship, Clarke guided the team to victory in the 2015 ICC World Cup and oversaw Australia's dominance in the Ashes, culminating in a 5-0 whitewash of England in the 2013-14 series.

As captain, Clarke was known for his aggressive style and strategic acumen, leading the team in 47 of his 115 Test matches. His captaincy was marked by high points, including his match-winning performances in the Ashes and his pivotal role in the 2015 World Cup triumph.

Record-Breaking Performances

Clarke's batting statistics are a testament to his class. Over his career, he accumulated 8643 runs in Test matches, ranking him sixth on Australia's all-time list. His 7981 runs in One-Day Internationals place him fourth in Australian history. Clarke's 28 Test centuries further cement his legacy, ranking him sixth in Australian cricket history.

One of the standout moments of Clarke's career came in the 2011-12 series against India when he became the sixth Australian to score a Test triple-century. His unbeaten 329 at the SCG was one of the defining innings of his career and remains a highlight in Australian cricket history. Clarke followed up that monumental innings with a double century in the fourth Test against India, as well as two more double centuries against South Africa in the following year.