Timeline: Clarke’s international career

January 2003: A 21-year-old Clarke makes his ODI debut against England in Adelaide, steering his team to victory with an unbeaten 39. Despite the winning introduction, he’s unable to crack the 2003 World Cup squad.

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Early days, and a dodgy hairdo // Getty Images

October 2004: Handles Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh with remarkable ease on Test debut, scoring 151 to be named man of the match in Bangalore. Australia win by 217 runs and go on to conquer the ‘final frontier’ – their first Test series win in India since 1969, with Clarke instrumental.

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Celebrating a debut ton with the family // Getty Images

November 2004: Snares an astonishing 6-9 with his left-arm spin, but is unable to get Australia over the line against India in the dead rubber Mumbai Test.

November 2004: In his first Test on Australian soil, the right-hander scores 141 against New Zealand at the Gabba. His status as the golden child of Australian cricket is confirmed.

January 2005: Wins the Allan Border medal after a stellar year. At 23, he becomes the youngest winner of the award.

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Australian cricket's golden child // Getty Images

November 2005: Clarke is told by captain Ricky Ponting that he is out of the Test XI after a slump dating back to the previous summer. He decides against celebrating the Test win in Hobart, opting instead to fly home that same night so as not to "drag everyone down".

November 2006: After earning a Test recall earlier in the year against Bangladesh, he is initially overlooked for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, but is called up after Shane Watson is ruled out through injury, scoring 56 in a crushing win. He goes on to make centuries in the second and third Tests.

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Tons of fun in the Ashes // Getty Images

April 2007: Scores 436 runs at average of 87.20 to help Australia win the World Cup in the West Indies.

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Top of the world // Getty Images

January 2008: Grabs three wickets in five balls as Australia clinch a dramatic last-gasp Test win over India at SCG.

WATCH: Clarke's magical over

January 2009: Simon Katich grabs Clarke by the throat after a heated altercation in the SCG changerooms following a Test win over South Africa. The moment becomes a major talking point among Australian cricket fans, and is later seen as one that divided opinion on the man widely regarded as the country’s captain-in-waiting.

February 2009: Wins a second Allan Border medal, this time sharing the prize with Ponting.

September 2009: Is forced to return home from Australia's Champions Trophy campaign in South Africa due to his chronic back injury.

October 2009: Ponting retires from international Twenty20s, paving the way for Clarke's appointment as T20 skipper.

March 2010: Leaves ODI tour of New Zealand and breaks up with fiancée Lara Bingle. Returns to the tour and scores a then career-high 168 in the first Test – his second score of 150-plus in successive Tests.

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Back with a bang // Getty Images

January 2011: Captains the Test side for the first time when Ponting misses loss to England at SCG due to injury. Retires from international T20 cricket to focus on the other two forms of the game.

March 2011: Ponting stands down as captain after the side's World Cup quarter-final defeat to India. Clarke is appointed Test and ODI skipper.

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Taking on the top job // Getty Images

September 2011: Scores 112 in the second innings of the third Test against Sri Lanka – his first Test hundred as captain – to ensure series victory.

November 2011: Scores magnificent 151 at Cape Town in fifth Test as captain, however Australia are skittled out for 47 in the second innings and lose convincingly.

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A Cape Town classic // Getty Images

January 2012: Highlight of a sensational series against India is his unbeaten 329 at the SCG. It's the highest score at the SCG and the fourth-highest by an Australian in Test history. Adds 210 in Adelaide in the fourth Test for good measure.

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Triple treat in Sydney // Getty Images

November 2012: Posts an unbeaten 259 in Brisbane then 230 in Adelaide to become the first player in Test history to pass 200 four times in one year, but Australia are beaten 1-0 in what is effectively a world title bout with South Africa.

February 2013: Joins Ponting as the only man to win four Allan Border medals, having also won the award the previous year.

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Toast of Australian cricket, again // Getty Images

March 2013: The first time Clarke misses a Test due to back injury. Shane Watson leads the side, having missed the previous game in India when he flew home after 'homework-gate'.

August 2013: Scores 187 against England at Old Trafford, but rain ruins Australia's best chance of posting a victory in another one-sided Ashes series defeat.

November 2013: Posts another Ashes hundred as Australia win the first Test and cops an ICC fine for telling England tailender James Anderson to "get ready for a broken f---ing arm" during a heated exchange in Brisbane.

WATCH: Clarke opens up on infamous sledge

January 2014: Plays key role in Australia's 5-0 Ashes win over England, having scored centuries at the Gabba and Adelaide Oval when the urn was still up for grabs.

March 2014: Finishes 161 not out against South Africa in arguably his greatest innings. Continues to bat despite suffering fractured shoulder after bouncer blow. Australia win in Cape Town and climb to No.1 in Test rankings.

WATCH: The story behind Clarke's ton of courage

September 2014: Heads home from ODI series in Zimbabwe after suffering hamstring injury in shock loss to the hosts.

December 2014: Retires hurt due to back injury but returns to score an emotional 128 in the first Test after the death of Phillip Hughes. Later tweaks his hamstring while fielding and is booked in for surgery.

WATCH: Clarke's momentous Adelaide hundred

January 2015: Clarke finds himself in a public standoff with selectors over his fitness deadline for the World Cup, but pledges to be ready for the tournament by the required date.

March 2015: Passes fitness deadline without issue. Top-scores for Australia in World Cup final with 74, having announced his ODI retirement the previous day.

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Going out on top // Getty Images

July 2015: Suggests his poor form has left Australia effectively playing with 10 men in third Ashes Test, but vows he is not close to retirement.

August 2015: Announces retirement after another two failures with the bat in fourth Test at Trent Bridge, where Australia meekly surrender the Ashes.

Clarke announces his retirement