Michael Clarke handed ultimate honour as cricket world reacts to news about Aussie legend

Cricket fans are sending messages of congratulations to Michael Clarke after the Aussie legend was announced as the newest member of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. The 43-year-old accepted the honour on Thursday and becomes the 64th inductee to the Hall of Fame, with two further members to be named later this year.

Clarke captain Australia in all three forms of cricket and scored 8643 runs at Test level. Making his first-class debut for NSW at 17, Clarke led Australia to victory in the ICC World Cup in 2015 and was skipper in 47 of his 115 career Tests.

The middle-order batter burst onto the international scene with a brilliant 151 on Test debut in India in 2004, grabbing player of the match honours. In 2012 he became just the sixth Australian man to score a Test match triple-century, making 329 against India at the SCG.

He succeeded Ricky Ponting as Test captain in 2011 and followed up his triple-century with a double-ton in the fourth Test against India. He also made double centuries against South Africa the following season, poling on the runs in a golden period.

At his peak he was ranked the No.1 batter in world cricket, and was skipper during the Ashes whitewash of England in 2013/14. He announced his retirement after Australia failed to win the urn in England in 2015.

Michael Clarke honoured by Hall of Fame nod

"To be able to sit along so many wonderful players, idols, role models growing up as a kid and looking up to is something I'm honoured by," Clarke said on Thursday. "Retirement does a lot of things to you. Through stages of watching cricket now, you miss parts.

"When you play at the highest level, people talk about your international career but for me, it started at six years of age. I retired at 34 so it was my life. It's still a part of my life. Cricket - it's probably so similar to life in general. You walk out and make 100 and then lift the bat, and then you walk out to field, field in slip and drop a catch second ball of the game."

Cricket world reacts after Michael Clarke Hall of Fame reveal

On Thursday, Australian Cricket Hall of Fame chairman Peter King described Clarke as a player who "defined his generation". King added: "Michael's extraordinary first-class playing career started at just 17 at the SCG - the place where many of his highlights occurred, including a Test triple century against India in 2012.

"Michael's career will forever be remembered fondly by the Australian public and his standing held alongside those at the upper echelon of our game. More than that, Michael was an exceptional leader of our men's Test and ODI teams who had a sustained period of success under his captaincy."

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Clarke averaged 49.10 in Tests and 44.58 in ODIs, making 7981 in one-day internationals for Australia. As well as his prolific batting, he also proved a handy off-spinner.

He famously took three wickets in the final over against India in 2008, helping Australia retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and extend their winning streak to 16 Tests. He also took six wickets in an innings (for just nine runs) in his debut series in 2004 in Mumbai - the best haul in his Test bowling career. Cricket fans and pundits took to social media on Thursday to congratulate Clarke, who has become a popular commentator and media figure since his retirement.

with AAP