They are not exactly Twenty20 stars but retired Australia skipper Ricky Ponting and his successor Michael Clarke have attracted the highest base price of $400,000 (approx Rs 2.1 crore) among the 101 names who will go under the hammer in the IPL players' auction in Chennai on Sunday.
Michael Clarke's stylish 148 on day two of the second Ashes Test against England on Friday was another glorious consummation of his love affair with Adelaide Oval, and moved his deputy Brad Haddin to rate him the world's best batsman.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting (137 not out) and his deputy Michael Clarke (111 not out) scored resolute centuries to revive Australia's fate and end Day 1 on 302 for 3, in the third Test at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Thursday.
Australia captain Michael Clarke batted with a broken shoulder on the recent tour of South Africa and has been advised to rest, ruling him out of the domestic first class final later this week, Cricket Australia said on Monday.
South Africa battled through an uncomfortable day at the Gabba to reach 166 for five and earn a draw in the first Test against Australia, who declared on 565-5 half-way through Tuesday's first session to try and force a result. Australia captain Michael Clarke, who scored 259 not out, declared with a first innings lead of 115 over South Africa's 450, but his bowlers were unable to claim enough wickets to force a result in a Test which lost a whole day to rain.
Michael Clarke's Sydney cricket club is being probed for declaring at 17-0 during a local game on Sunday and claiming it was to boost the injured Australian captain's chances of batting time before the first Test against India next month.
The out-of-form middle-order batsman was omitted after regular opener Justin Langer was cleared to return from injury.
However, he didn't rule out that some players might have harboured thoughts about Clarke's assumption that they "sucked up to" Indian skipper Virat Kohli in fear of losing out on IPL pay-checks.
India will start their T20 World Cup campaign on June 5 against Ireland at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
The Aussies beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the last group match of a triangular series.
Australia captain Michael Clarke has confirmed his deputy Shane Watson will continue to open the batting in South Africa, despite media reports claiming the all-rounder was contemplating a move down the order to revive his form.
Australian batsman Steve Smith feels skipper Michael Clarke has shown "unbelievable" courage in the wake of the tragic death of Phillip Hughes and played "beautifully" battling severe back pain to score a century on Day Two of the first Test against India.
Australia opener David Warner paid a fitting tribute to his deceased teammate Phillip Hughes, scoring a rollicking 145 before India dealt three quick blows at the fag end to share honours on an emotionally charged opening day in the first Test in Adelaide on Tuesday. Statistical highlights from the day's play.
Australia's journey back up the Test world rankings is not going to happen overnight but the upcoming series in Sri Lanka will be an indication of their current status, captain Michael Clarke said on Thursday.
'Right now I think Finchy (Aaron Finch) is doing a great job, Painey is doing a great job. So, that gives Pat Cummins the opportunity to learn and watch and sit back and see how he feels about that role and experience a few different things'
Australian captain Michael Clarke, who played for Pune Warriors in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League, believes the cash-rich tournament will sustain despite being marred by endless controversies.
Captain Michael Clarke rode his luck to score 139 and help steer Australia to a 132-run first innings lead over New Zealand with a total of 427 on the third day of the first Test on Saturday.
Michael Clarke struck a sublime century to become his country's highest Test run-scorer in a calendar year as Australia marched to an imperious 278-run lead at the close of day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
Mickey Arthur has blown the divisive feud between Michael Clarke and Shane Watson out of the proportion and the root of the rift between two players has been the all-rounder's shuffling around the Test match batting order by the Aussie skipper, believes legendary spinner Shane Warne.
Michael Clarke produced a brilliant all-round performance as Australia staged a dramatic recovery to beat Pakistan by 27 runs and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The captain smashed a solid 66 and then bowling for the first time in the series, snared three wickets to seal victory in the 48th over.
Australia captain Michael Clarke hopes to be fit to return for Monday's final ICC Champions Trophy Group A game against Sri Lanka after missing the first two matches with a back injury.
Down with a recurrent back injury, Australia's regular skipper Michael Clarke said the actions of David Warner and other teammates in Birmingham had an "impact on his leadership".
Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are on even keel as far as leadership qualities are concerned, feels former Australia skipper Michael Clarke even though he rates the Indian captain as a slightly better ODI batsman.
'Although one-in-five women in the UK will experience stalking at some point in their lives, there are no scientific studies around the stalking of athletes.'
Mark Butcher has backed the hosts to come good against Australia in the upcoming Ashes series but said that Michael Clarke is ahead of Alastair Cook in terms of "forward thinking" as a leader.
Putting to rest speculation about Michael Clarke's dipping popularity within the national cricket team, coach Darren Lehmann said that Australian captain occupies the second-most important position after the Prime Minister and everyone wants him to be fit and raring to go.
Australian captain Michael Clarke has told Ricky Ponting that he has his number and he should call him if there is anything worth talking about as the pair wrestle publicly over comments in the former captain's book.
In October 2004, a 23-year-old went out to bat in the Chinnaswamy stadium and returned having made 151. It was a memorable debut.
Australia Test and One-day captain Michael Clarke has defended his players against match-fixing allegations after a sports agent said the country's top cricketers were "the biggest" culprits.
A bizarre standoff between Michael Clarke and selectors over the Australia captain's hopes of playing the first Test against India next week remained unresolved on Tuesday after the nation's cricket board dug in its heels.
Opener David Warner is a rare talent and the X-factor he brings to the Australian team more than makes up for the odd ugly dismissal, captain Michael Clarke said on Thursday.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting feels the team's pacers should not shy away from using the bouncer in the Test series against India starting on Tuesday.
Australia captain Michael Clarke expressed unhappiness with his bowlers after the three-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in Hobart on Friday. Despite posting a competitive 280 on the board in the league match of the ongoing ODI tri-series the Aussies ended up on the losing side.
Australia have an unassailable lead in hand but skipper Michael Clarke says he wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than a 4-0 whitewash of India in the ongoing cricket Test series.
Australian vice captain Michael Clarke is being forced to receive daily treatment on his troublesome back to be ready in time for next week's opening Test against the West Indies at Gabba.
Describing Michael Hussey as a match winner, Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke on Wednesday said the left-handed batsman has a huge to role play in their World Cup title defence.
Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke has said that he would like to take part in the 2012 Indian Premier League (IPL) to prepare for that year's Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.
In his quest for a 4-0 whitewash, Australian skipper Michael Clarke said his team would not show any sympathy to Sachin Tendulkar, who remains unbeaten at the end of day two of the fourth Test in Adelaide and desperately seeks his 100th international century.
The right-hander said Australia will have to be at their best to beat the West Indies in the ICC Champions Trophy final.
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