Clarke wins Cricketer of the Year

Quick Single: Pup's magical WACA moment

Clarke was honoured with the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for his remarkable run-scoring feats during the voting period from August 2012 to August this year.

He was also named ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.

In that time, Clarke scored 1559 Test runs at 70.86 – the highest aggregate among his Test-playing peers – which included five centuries, two of which were double hundreds.

Even more noteworthy was the fact that Clarke managed his success at a time when his team struggled, recording four consecutive defeats in India early in 2013 and completing the five-match Ashes series in England without a victory.

It capped a memorable day for Clarke, who received a commemorative baggy green cap in recognition of his 100^th Test from Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards prior to play beginning at the WACA Ground.

Clarke was welcomed on to the field by a guard of honour that contained a number of fellow members of the nation’s 100 Test club – Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer.

“I was very surprised, to be honest, I think probably because there are so many guys who are playing so well around the world at the moment,” Clarke told cricket.com.au.

“I definitely didn’t expect to have won this award but it is a prestigious award and an honour, and something I’m certainly proud of.

“(But) I’d swap it for the team to have success, that’s for sure.

“The most special feeling in any team sport is winning, but especially in cricket, along with that comes individual performance.”

And despite his remarkable output, Clarke reiterated his belief that he could continue to scale even greater heights.

“I think there’s a lot of areas of my game that can improve, and I work on those daily,” he said. “I think the key to the great players that I look up to is that they have success over a long period of time.

“It’s an honour to have won this award this year, but if I want to become a great player, I need to make sure I’m scoring runs and helping this team win games for a few more years to come yet."

Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland paid tribute to Clarke, who scored centuries in consecutive Test of the current Ashes series which Australia leads two-nil.

“Australian cricket is incredibly proud of Michael’s achievements and it’s quite fitting that such an accolade comes his way as he marks his 100th Test match,” Sutherland said.

“Beyond his performances at the crease his determination to lead the Australian side to sustained success is obvious and worthy of high praise.”

Clarke is the third Australian to be presented with the ICC’s premier honour since the awards were introduced in 2004.

His predecessor as captain, Ricky Ponting, received the honour in 2006 and 207, while Clarke’s current Test team-mate and strike bowler Mitchell Johnson was named Player of the Year in 2009.

Also yesterday, former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist was celebrated with a lap of honour during the tea break of the first day’s play in the third Commonwealth Bank Ashes Series Test in Perth after being inducted into the ICC’s Hall of Fame.

Quick Single: Gilchrist also honoured by ICC

BY THE NUMBERS: Clarke's innings August 7, 2012 to Aug 25, 2013