Triple centurion Clarke puts result before records

Friday, 6 January 2012 02:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Michael Clarke never considered batting on beyond his mammoth unbeaten 329 to chase more records rather than declaring Australia’s first innings in the second test against India on Thursday.

The Australia captain had Don Bradman’s highest innings of 334, subsequently matched by Mark Taylor, within his grasp and, on a benign wicket, could conceivably gone on to challenge Brian Lara’s world record unbeaten 400.

For Clarke, though, the 10-hour, 17-minute innings was just a means to putting his team in a position to win the test match and take a 2-0 lead in the series.

“I didn’t have Don Bradman and Mark Taylor’s score in my head whatsoever,” he told reporters.

“It was about trying to get the team to a total which I thought was a really good for a declaration and then get out there and try have a crack and take a couple of wickets this afternoon. That’s all I was thinking about.

“I’m stoked to have managed to make 300-odd runs today in this test match, but the most important thing for me now is that we win the test and that was a big reason for my declaration,” he added.

“It’s about putting the team first, that’s why we play, that’s what I love most about this game, seeing this team win. If I had thought it was best for the team to continue to bat, I would have continued to bat.”

Clarke reached 300 runs just after lunch on the third day of the second test, recording only the 25th triple century in test cricket.