A Michael Clarke special at Hyderabad
Clarke's batting was the only saving grace in an otherwise lackluster performance from the visitors against India.
Australia skipper was a force to reckon with against India on Day 1 of the second Test, even if his team wasn't. Here is why:
* Michael Clarke became the third Australian batman to appear in 20-plus Tests against India. Others are Rickey Ponting (29) and Allan Border (20). Clarke is appearing in his 20th Test against India in Hyderabad.
* Clarke became the third Australian batsman to score 1800 runs against India. He reached the milestone when he was on 19 during his knock of 91 on Saturday. His run aggregate stood at 1880 at the end of his innings. Others are -Ponting (2555) and Mathew Hayden (1888).
* Clarke's 91 in the first innings is the 54th occasion of an Australian captain scoring a fifty against India. Mathew Wade scored 62 to provide the 16th occasion of an Australian wicket keeper scoring a fifty against India.
* Clarke and Wade added 145 runs for the fifth wicket in Hyderabad providing the 101st occasion of Australian batsmen posting a three-figure partnership against India. It also represents the 18th occasion of Australian batsmen posting a three-figure partnership for the fifth wicket against India.
* Clarke and Wade's stand was the fifth occasion of Australian batsmen posting a three-figure partnership for the fifth wicket against India. It also represents the record partnership for the fifth wicket by Australian batsmen for the fifth wicket against India in India. The previous best was - 139 runs between 139 runs partnership between Damien Martyn and Jason Gillespie at Chennai in October 2004
* Clarke's 91 is the 20th occasion of an Australian batsman scoring a ninety against India. It also represents the 11th occasion of an Australian captain scoring a ninety against India in India. This was Clarke's second ninety against India, the other being his 91 at Nagpur in Oct 2004. Clarke also became the Australian batsman to score nineties on two occasions against India. Others are -Hayden, Michael Slater and KD Walters.
* With his 91, Clarke became the third Australian captain to score a ninety against India. Others are - Kim Hughes - 92 at Kolkata in Oct 1979 and Border - 91 not out at Adelaide in Jan 1992. Clarke's 91 in this test provide the 17th occasion of an Australian captain scoring a ninety against various oppositions.