SYDNEY: Australia captain Michael Clarke on Thursday said he didn’t think of Don Bradman and Mark Taylor’s record when he made a surprise declaration and all that he thought was to give his bowlers enough time to dismiss India for a second time and win the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground ( SCG).
Clarke was unbeaten on 329 and Australia were 659 for four when he decided to make India bat in the second innings. He was five runs short of equalling Bradman and Taylor’s record of 334, the highest Test score by an Australian.
“I didn’t think about it (records) at all, I didn’t have Don Bradman or Mark Taylor’s score in my head whatsoever,” Clarke told reporters when asked about the record.
“It was about trying to get the team to a number, a total I thought would be a good score to make a declaration, then have a crack this afternoon to get a couple of wickets. If it was best for the team to continue batting I would have continued to bat,” he said.
The 30-year-old said his achievement would mean little unless they win the match.
“I don’t think it will sink in properly until we win the Test match. That is why we play, that was my goal walking out there today. Don’t get me wrong, I am stoked that I have managed to make 300-odd runs in this Test match, but the most important thing for me now is we win the Test.
“That was a big part of the reason for my declaration. I spoke to Hussey just before we declared and I really wanted him to make 150, he deserved it, and once he got that I thought now we have a 450-run lead, it is a good time to pull up stumps and try to get a couple of wickets tonight,” he said.
Clarke said he didn’t expect to score 300 as he had never batted for that long prior to his remarkable innings.
“I didn’t expect to score 300 in one innings, so the fact I have done that I am stoked, and as for all the other records, I am happy where I sit, to be honest.
“Batting the amount of time for me was the toughest thing. I have never batted that long in any form of the game in any team in my career.
“Physically I felt pretty good, when I came to the ground I felt pretty fresh, and my body felt in a pretty good position. It is just the mental application and concentration that you need to have.” (IANS)