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Wicketkeeper batsman Dane Vilas will lead South Africa A’s four-day squad while left-hand batsman Dean Elgar will captain the 50-overs team on the tour of India

ESPNcricinfo staff29-May-2015Wicketkeeper batsman Dane Vilas will lead South Africa A’s four-day squad while left-hand batsman Dean Elgar will captain the 50-overs team on the tour of India.While Elgar and Vilas are also part of South Africa’s Test squad for the tour of Bangladesh in July, the A team includes Omphile Ramela, Keshav Maharaj and Dane Paterson, who were rewarded for their good showing in the domestic season.South Africa A will play a triangular limited-overs series against India A and Australia A. The limited-overs series will be followed by two four-day unofficial Test matches against India A.”A number of relative newcomers to the Proteas have been included in the South Africa A squads and, with the Proteas due to tour India later this year, this tour will give them invaluable experience of Indian playing conditions,” South Africa A coach Vinnie Barnes said.Four-day squad: Dane Vilas (capt), Temba Bavuma, Gihahn Cloete, Theunis de Bruyn, Marchant de Lange, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Omphile Ramela, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Stiaan van Zyl, Hardus Viljoen, David Wiese50-overs squad: Dean Elgar (capt), Cody Chetty, Theunis de Bruyn, Marchant de Lange, Cameron Delport, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Eddie Leie, Keshav Maharaj, Omphile Ramela, Mthokozisi Shezi, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Dane Vilas, David Wiese, Khaya Zondo

Discipline and pride will be the key to West Indies’ revival, according to their new head coach, Phil Simmons

George Dobell in Antigua12-Apr-2015Discipline and pride will be the key to West Indies’ revival, according to their new head coach, Phil Simmons.Simmons is facing a tough baptism in his new role. Having only joined up with the side a week ago, he admits he knows few of the players intimately and has had little time to prepare ahead of the Test series against England beginning in Antigua on Monday.But he feels he has the support of the West Indies Cricket Board and is confident that, given hard work, he can help the team rise from their position as No. 8 rated Test team to a place in the top three.Simmons urges more series for Ireland

Ireland will soon be playing against West Indies, if Phil Simmons’ wishes count for anything.
Simmons, who has just returned to the Caribbean as coach of West Indies after eight years in a similar role with Ireland, remains committed to helping the Associate nation develop and promises to “do everything he can” to ensure the fixtures against Full Member opposition that Ireland have been craving to sustain their development.
Simmons suggested that part of the severance agreement brokered between the West Indies Cricket Board and Cricket Ireland would involve such fixtures taking place “soon.”
“I’m sure that was spoken about in the negotiations about me leaving,” he said from Antigua as he looked forward to his first Test in charge of West Indies starting on Monday.
“I’m sure that will happen soon. I will always push for that. I’d have no problem with that at all. I’ll do everything I can to keep things going there.
“All the Full Members need to back them.”

He did warn that progress will take time, though.”It’s been well documented that we’re not in a good place as far as cricket is concerned,” Simmons admitted. “We need to get back in that good place.”It’s been frustrating [to witness West Indies’ decline]. It would be for anyone who has represented West Indies. It’s been disappointing to see the way we’ve played.”I know we’re not in the best of places right now”But it’s something special to coach your own country. And once we get to that level of doing everything professionally I think the talent will come through.”A lack of talent is, in Simmons’ view, the least of West Indies’ problems. He remains convinced that the region continues to produce hugely naturally talented cricketers but that there is a failure to develop them.”Talent has never been the problem,” he said. “There’s always been talent coming through. It’s what we do with that talent between 18 or 19 and 24 or 25. We’ve got to address that. That doesn’t mean the national team; it means the teams below that.”And that’s where discipline and pride come in. Simmons intends to instil a new work ethic within all levels of West Indies cricket and to ensure the players know they are representing the hopes of people throughout the region and beyond.”It’s a lot about discipline,” Simmons said. “Whatever you do – bowl, bat or field – discipline comes through.”And pride comes into it. Life is about pride. Anything you do, you have to do it with pride and do it to the best of your ability.”At our best we represented five-million people but we enjoyed what we did on the field. We knew we represented the Caribbean people and people from afar but we made sure we enjoyed it.”My coaching philosophy is: practise hard; play easy. We have to be doing things a lot harder in practice. And that will make things easier when we get on the field.”Guys have to be given a benchmark every time. If I’m 19 and I can do A, B and C, by the time I’m 22, I should be able to do D, E and F to be an international cricketer and get to the top three in the world, which is where you should want to be.”We have to get the team to understand more of what professionalism means. Once we get to that level of doing everything professionally I think the talent will come through.”Among those talented players are the uncapped Bajans, Carlos Brathwaite, a seamer, and Shai Hope, a wicketkeeper-batsman who recently made a double-century in domestic cricket. Simmons is impressed by both.”I think young Hope is technically sound,” Simmons said. “To score a double-hundred at any level, you have to be technically sound. He showed in the practice game that he can bat for a longer period of time. That’s a big thing with young cricketers now; some of them just want to go out and play shots. But he showed he had the temperament.”Braithwaite just bowled like a Test bowler in the practice game. His line and lengths troubled the batsmen.”Progress may take time, though, and Simmons urged supporters not to judge his success too early or simply on the first few results.”It’s about getting a system in place and making sure it works properly,” he said. “So it’s not about winning a Test series v England or Australia.”I was eight years at Ireland and I don’t think everything was finished. It’s about putting a system in place so that, five or 10 years from now we’re back where we want to be.”And that we stay there. The system must last. It has to keep going no matter who comes after me.”

UEFA's premier club competition has been the stage for some of the greatest players of all time, but who has played there most?

In order to make over 100 Champions League appearances, you need something special about you.

A relatively small number of footballers have managed to achieve the feat, with only the most talented and physically capable doing so.

So which players have made the most Champions League appearances? Goal takes a look at the most enduring stars in the history of the competition.

Getty1Clarence Seedorf | 125 appearances

Clarence Seedorf won the Champions League with three different clubs: Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998) and AC Milan (2003, 2007).

The legendary Netherlands midfielder made his competition debut as a substitute for Ajax in a 2-0 victory against Milan on September 14, 1994 and his last-ever appearance was a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona on April 3, 2012.

AdvertisementGetty Images2Thomas Muller | 126 appearances

Thomas Muller scored on his Champions League debut, when he came on as a second-half substitute for Bastian Schweinsteiger in Bayern Munich's 7-1 demolition of Sporting on March 10, 2009. Since then, he has made over 120 appearances and lifted the trophy twice.

The Germany legend has featured for Bayern Munich in 14 consecutive Champions League seasons and counting.

Getty Images3Sergio Ramos | 129 appearances

When Real Madrid were the dominant force in the Champions League between 2014 and 2018, Sergio Ramos was the beating heart of their efforts. His first taste of the competition came in a 3-0 defeat to Lyon in 2005, but Ramos has gone on to win four Champions League titles, surpassing a century of appearances in the process.

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Getty4Andres Iniesta | 130 appearances

Like his Barcelona partner-in-crime Xavi, Andres Iniesta made all of his 130 Champions League appearances for a single club. The four-time winner made his first appearance in the competition during the 2002-03 season before pulling the curtain down in 2017-18.

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi has been warned by Roberto Carlos to watch out for Brazil ahead of 2024 Copa America.

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Argentina favourites to defend the continental crownBrazil are struggling under DinizCarlos believes Vinicius and Co can bounce back in Copa AmericaWHAT HAPPENED?

The five-time world champions are going through a lean patch of form. After bowing out of the 2022 World Cup in the quarter-finals to Croatia, Tite was shown the door and was replaced by Ramon Menezes. However, the revolving chair continued to be in motion and Fernando Diniz was brought in as the new interim manager. But the change in personnel did not help in reviving their fortunes as they stand sixth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table having won just two of their first six matches. They are on a three-match losing streak, including a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in their latest outing in November, which has led many to suggest that Messi and Co could retain the title that they won in 2021.

AdvertisementWHAT CARLOS SAID ABOUT BRAZIL

However, Carlos is not ready to write off Brazil and has warned the Albiceleste to not make the mistake of taking them lightly in the 2024 Copa America.

Speaking to he said: "Never underestimate the Brazilian national team, I speak from experience. We’ve got a new manager now and we just need to give him some time to work. We have great players and a good manager, I’m sure Copa America will be competitive and very exciting."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Brazil have been linked with Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti and there is a possibility that the Italian could be in the dugout during the Copa America. However, they might miss Neymar who is currently nursing an ACL injury and is not expected to be match-fit for the continental tournament.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BRAZIL?

In the absence of Neymar, Brazil will be looking forward to the likes of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Gabriel Jesus to step up their game. The former two are key figures in the Real Madrid dressing room, whereas, Jesus is gradually rediscovering his best form under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal after coming off a lengthy injury layoff. If the trio gets going and Ancelotti indeed accepts the offer from Brazil's football federation, then the Selecao could potentially hope to turn things around and recapture the Copa America title from their arch-rivals next summer.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has insisted that the Parisians have to prepare for life without Kylian Mbappe.

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Luis Enrique hooked Mbappe off against Rennes Admitted that he is looking for "maximum competitiveness" Mbappe to leave PSG this summer WHAT HAPPENED?

Luis Enrique removed Mbappe from the Parisians' clash with Rennes after an hour on Sunday, benching the French superstar while his side trailed 1-0. Goncalo Ramos replaced him, and scored a late equaliser to save his side from any blushes.

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Luis Enrique explained his decision to bench his star man after the game: "It’s very simple, sooner or later, when it happens we have to get used to playing without Kylian. When I want to play like this, I will, when I don’t, I won’t. It’s very easy, there are competitions and my intention is not to give ‘free’ minutes, I want maximum competitiveness. Every player has to deserve their playing time."

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Mbappe's days in the French capital are numbered. He informed the club two weeks ago that he plans on leaving in June, and reportedly has an agreement to join Real Madrid ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

The accomplished player may not be guaranteed to play every minute for the Parisians in the coming weeks. However, he figures to be a regular starter and should be in the picture when his side takes on Monaco this Friday.

While the opening day belonged to youth the second was a day that celebrated the experience of 35-year-old Gareth Batty and 38-year-old Dale Benkenstein

Vithushan Ehantharajah at The Oval11-May-2013
ScorecardSpin continued to play a key part as Gareth Batty took four wickets•Getty ImagesWhile the opening day belonged to youth with Ryan Buckley’s maiden five-wicket haul on debut, the second was a day that celebrated the experience of 35-year-old Gareth Batty and 38-year-old Dale Benkenstein.As Batty kept Durham in check with four wickets, Benkenstein, who had already played eight first-class matches before Buckley was even born, negotiated a turning pitch and rain delays to take Durham into a first innings lead, and himself past 9,000 first-class runs for the county.It wasn’t just rain that stalled proceedings at The Oval. Pigeons, never shy of tucking into the seeds here on the outfield, were ballsy enough to wander close to the pitch, some even having the temerity to dart across the pitch as the bowler ran in.It irked Stuart Meaker, who needed three attempts to complete a single delivery in the 73rd over after pulling out initially because one of the feathered troublemakers started hopping toward the pitch, ominously. However, it was only Batty who could really look at himself and say he gave it his all; on three occasions he dispersed a cluster of pigeons by charging at them and waving his arms about like a man possessed by a, well, pigeon.In the morning session his arm waving was more right-arm orthodox, and accounted for the wickets of Will Smith and Mark Stoneman, who started the morning with a host of boundaries as he brought up 50 off only 53 balls. Bowling in tandem with Gary Keedy, the pair – with a combined age of 73 – made use of a good, turning track although it was Batty who generating the most bite.Were it not for Batty, Durham could have built up a far more convincing lead by stumps, which should tell you a lot about the calculated nature of their batting. The forecast for the day was for showers an hour or so after lunch and, after an initial stoppage, the rain settled in and hung around to tea.A turgid period of play resulting in Ben Stokes dragging one on and Collingwood going five balls after tea, both to Zander de Bruyn but the introduction of Phil Mustard looked like it might get up the nose of Surrey, as he played his natural game to good effect; driving well off the seamers and saving a variety of sweeps against the spinners.At the other end, Benkenstein picked up singles and patiently waded through overs to find the bad balls and when they arrived he put them away. But when Mustard went, the tail soon followed as Batty tricked Callum Thorp into playing inside the line of his arm-ball, catching the edge and allowing Jason Roy to do the rest at slip (albeit at the second attempt). Tim Linley then removed Mark Wood and Chris Rushworth in the first over with the new ball, in successive deliveries, bringing young Buckley to the crease.He was shielded by his elder, who took it upon himself to try and thrash a few runs as the day wound down. Batty placed eight men evenly spaced out to cover the entire boundary; bringing them in from the fifth ball of the over to trap Buckley on strike for the change of overs. When they did, he stood up to Linley and defended with confidence off the back foot before seeing out the last over of the day.It was a day that tested the resolve of the few watching, but one that did enough to move this game along at a decent pace. Both sides should be credited for that.

Canada ended the first day of their two-day game against USA in Toronto in a commanding position, scoring 273 for 4 in reply to the visitors’ 166 all out.

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Aug-2011Canada 239 for 4 (Patel 75) lead USA 166 by 73 runs
ScorecardCanada ended the first day of their two-day game against USA in Toronto in a commanding position, scoring 273 for 4 in reply to the visitors’ 166 all out. The first innings of both sides was limited to 45 over by arrangement, and so when play resumes USA will be starting their second innings.USA won the toss and stuck the Canadians in, but their bowlers failed to make much impression. Hiral Patel and Khushroo Wadia put on 71 for the first wicket, and then Patel and Rustam Bhatti 67 for the second. Patel was in particularly good form, smacking 75 off 85 deliveries before his innings was ended by a run-out. There was little respite for the USA, however, as Bhatti and Nitish Kumar added 71 for the third wicket.USA lost early wickets and the innings never regained anything like enough momentum. At 24 for 4 they seemed in deep trouble, but Jignesh Desai and Anand Tummala stopped the rot in a fifth-wicket stand of 61 but they were always off the pace and were eventually bowled out with 15 balls of their 45 over remaining.

Pakistan overcame a blistering spell from Ravi Rampaul and some late panic against the impressive Devendra Bishoo to secure the series against West Indies with a three-wicket victory in Barbados.

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan28-Apr-2011
ScorecardMisbah-ul-Haq showed his composure as he guided Pakistan to victory•AFPPakistan overcame a blistering spell from Ravi Rampaul and some late panic against the impressive Devendra Bishoo to secure the series against West Indies with a three-wicket victory in Barbados. The hosts had collapsed feebly once again, but Pakistan were jolted by Rampaul’s four strikes and needed the calm head of Misbah-ul-Haq, who remained cool as Bishoo threatened to turn the game again.It became a more compelling contest than looked likely during another insipid batting display from West Indies. Then Pakistan again appeared to be cruising at 127 for 4 after a composed stand between Misbah and Hammad Azam. However, Bishoo benefited from some poor umpiring and hot-headed strokes to leave them needing 24 when Wahab Riaz joined Misbah, but there were eventually 29 balls to spare as Wahab launched two sixes in four deliveries to hurry a conclusion.Misbah was roundly criticised for Pakistan’s World Cup semi-final exit against India when his poorly-paced innings proved costly, but in this series he has provided vital ballast in an inexperienced order. Without him here, Pakistan would have lost. This was his third unbeaten score to secure a run chase – although he could have been stumped on 20 if part-time keeper Lendl Simmons had gloved the ball – and showed a technique, and composure, that was lacking among some of his team-mates.Despite the early clatter of wickets the required rate was never an issue for Pakistan, which allowed Misbah to bed in and weather the tough passages while Rampaul was in action. This tour started on the slow, low pitch in St Lucia, where the ball barely got above knee height, but this Kensington Oval surface had far more pace and carry for the quick bowlers who were willing to bend their backs.Ahmed Shehzad, fresh from his hundred three days ago, tried to pull Rampaul’s first delivery and top-edged to a back-tracking Simmons and next delivery Asad Shafiq edged to second slip; suddenly the West Indian fans started to find their voice. Mohammad Hafeez was the next to fall to another top-edged pull, which was well taken by Bishoo, running towards deep square-leg, to leave the visitors 12 for 3.Misbah’s natural game is always to cut out risk and bat time; for Umar Akmal it is the opposite and he took the aggressive route. He struck five boundaries in a 27-ball stay before being undone by a wonderful delivery that bounced and shaved the glove as he tried to sway out of the line.Ravi Rampaul’s four wickets gave West Indies a chance but they didn’t have enough runs•AFPHowever, from there West Indies couldn’t force another breakthrough as Misbah continued to be a steadying presence. Azam, in his first ODI innings, showed composure and pulled a free hit from Andre Russell for six. He also did well to leave the crease so swiftly after Asoka de Silva failed to spot a huge inside edge when he gave an lbw decision in Bishoo’s favour – there is no DRS in this series.Shahid Afridi’s batting has disintegrated and, after two boundaries, it was predictable when he attempted a slog over midwicket. Mohammad Salman then showed his inexperience by not running hard when he thought the ball would reach the boundary and was bowled by a flipper that he shouldn’t have been facing. Fortunately for Salman it didn’t cost the match.But while West Indies showed spirit in the field their innings followed a depressingly familiar pattern as they lost 8 for 53 after Simmons and Darren Bravo had formed a solid platform with an 86-run stand. Once they were separated, the innings almost came to a stand-still and soon fell in a heap amid a mixture of prods, pokes and hopeless slogs.Marlon Samuels, who is struggling to adjust back to international cricket, was again culpable in the loss of momentum as he took 35 balls over his 18, while Kirk Edwards laboured until being run out by a direct hit from backward point. Aside from Simmons, and to a lesser extent Darren Bravo, there is precious little confidence in West Indies’ line up and it showed as the innings faded away with Wahab taking two in three balls.Devon Smith’s horror trot against Hafeez’s offspin had continued when he was trapped lbw first ball, the third time in a row he had fallen in such fashion. After reaching fifty from 61 balls Simmons had time to double his score, but drove a fraction too early and offered a low chance to Saeed Ajmal who took it well in his follow through.The onus was on Darren Bravo not to follow a similar path of giving away a useful innings, however, having struggled to increase the tempo, he then played across a full ball from Hafeez as the stall kicked in. Any hopes of pushing past 200 vanished in the space of three balls from Wahab as he had both Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo caught at long on. A little bit of sensible batting and this could have been West Indies’ match.

A blistering opening partnership between Robin Uthappa and S Anirudha set up an impressive win for India Green against India Blue in Nagpur

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo: Robin Uthappa struck a blistering ton and was involved in a double-century opening stand•Sivaraman Kitta/K SivaramanA blistering opening partnership between Robin Uthappa and S Anirudha set up an impressive win for India Green against India Blue in Nagpur, and secured their place in the final of the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy. India Green were asked to bat first once again, however, this time they made better use of the fine platform laid by their openers and piled up 348 for 9 in their 50 overs to all but shut India Blue out of the match at the halfway stage.Uthappa carried his form from the first match into this game, launching his aggressive knock with a lofted four to long-off and a well-executed pull off Irfan Pathan. Anirudha played the support role in the pair’s century stand in the previous game, but here he matched Uthappa shot for shot. He struck Irfan for two boundaries as well, before depositing a short ball on the leg stump from Pradeep Sangwan beyond long-on.The pair was aided by some wayward bowling from Irfan early on, as he repeatedly strayed on to the pads in an attempt to get the ball to swing in. India Blue captain S Badrinath tried to stem the flow of runs by bringing on Amit Mishra in the fifth over, but Uthappa and Anirudha continued to pick up fours and sixes at will. After the openers pummelled 34 runs off two overs, India Green had raced to 86 after eight. Unlike against India Red though, they did not waste their fine starts and pushed on to centuries, bringing the 200 up as early as the 23rd over.The bowlers finally found some relief after Uthappa retired. Mohammad Kaif struggled to keep the momentum going before rushing down the track and playing down the wrong line to hand Mishra his first wicket. Anirudha gifted his wicket away, lofting a full toss on the leg stump to midwicket off part-timer M Vijay. Uthappa returned after India Green lost Mohnish Mishra and Ishank Jaggi in quick succession, but could not match his early tempo, striking just one more four before P Parameswaran had him bowled. Sangwan claimed wickets late in the innings as the batsmen looked for quick runs, to finish with 4 for 58 form his ten.India Blue, who needed to win to make the final, made a poor start in the chase as Tanmay Srivastava edged behind off left-arm medium pacer Samad Fallah, with CM Gautham completing a spectacular diving catch. Vijay and Saurabh Tiwary did not let the asking-rate get out of reach though, in an 87-run stand for the second wicket at better than a run-a-ball. After Vijay fell, beaten by Iqbal Abdulla’s turn, Dinesh Karthik provided Tiwary with adequate support. The pair added 48 before Tiwary hit straight to Jaggi at long-off, cutting short his promising innings of 74 off 70. India Blue had one last go at the target through Karthik and Manish Pandey, before Karthik was adjudged lbw off Abhimanyu Mithun for 49.From then on, wickets fell at regular intervals and the required rate soared, and India Green closed out the game in the 42nd over courtesy a fine tumbling catch by Kaif to get rid of Sangwan. Badrinath, who had gone off the field during the first drinks break of the India Green innings, did not bat. Uthappa was named Man of the Match.India Green will play India Red in the final on Thursday at the same venue.

When asked by a columnist who had scathingly criticised him in the past what his maiden double-ton would mean in the long run, Michael Clarke said he hoped it would earn him respect

Daniel Brettig at the SCG04-Jan-2012With 251 not out next to his name, and a match-defining partnership of 288 alongside Ricky Ponting in his pocket, Michael Clarke was given a moment to savour at the press conference after a landmark day for his Australian team. Standing to one side in the room was a columnist who had written derisively of Clarke in the past. His criticism of Clarke peaked in late 2009 with the following line: “His problem is a little more delicate. Michael Clarke is a tosser. Or, to give him an out clause, he to be a tosser.”When the juncture arrived for the author of that line to pose a question, he asked Clarke about what an innings like this would do for him in the “big picture”. A voracious reader of the press and now a columnist himself, Clarke knew whom he was speaking to. His response carried a pointed word.”Hopefully, it helps me continue to earn ,” Clarke said. “That’s all I can do, and most importantly that helps me put this team in a position to win another Test match. That’s our goal; that’s my goal – to help Australia win as many games as we can.”One of the things Punter [Ricky Ponting] taught me before I got the captaincy was as a leader you need to make sure you’re standing up on the field; make sure you’re leading from the front and scoring runs, and that’s what I’ve tried to do since taking over the captaincy.”Respect is something Clarke has had to battle hard to gain, but he is now earning it in vast swathes with nimble captaincy and batting of increasing presence. He began the second day at the SCG as the recipient of ‘s Alan McGilvray award for Australia’s cricketer of the year. The honour came as no surprise to anyone who had seen him lead a young team through its regeneration after Ponting gave up the captaincy following failed Ashes and World Cup campaigns.The SCG crowd stood to applaud Michael Clarke’s hundred•Getty Images”We’re a team that’s learning,” Clarke said. “Young guys are getting a bit of experience and working out that winning Test matches is hard work. There’s a really good feeling within the team but that’s obviously because we’re getting a bit of success.”Our preparation couldn’t be better, we just need to keep building on that consistency, continuing to do our work; and when you get chances in a game you’ve got to grab them with both hands. If India get on top of you, they’re a really hard team to stop, so we’ve got to make sure that when we’ve got momentum we keep the ball rolling.”So far in Sydney, Clarke’s team have demonstrated how much they are learning, against an Indian side that can only hope for a merciful declaration on the third day. Mindful of how the pitch had evolved from sporting on the first day to friendly on the second, Clarke said he would focus on getting quick runs and giving his bowlers maximum time to bowl the visitors out a second time.”The track has flattened out a lot compared to day one, so the most important thing for us is making sure there’s enough time left in the game to give ourselves a chance to bowl India out. I think we need to bat well tomorrow morning to set the game up. We’re a long way from being 2-0 up, a lot of hard work needs to go in, but we’re in a really good position.”As befits a captain in the middle of a Test, Clarke was more reticent to speak about his own unfinished innings, coruscating as it has been. He has the painful memory of Cape Town last year, when a sparkling innings was overshadowed by a harrowing defeat, to remind him against triumphalism.”It’s my highest score ever, I don’t really know [if it is my best innings],” he said. “I was really proud of the 151 against South Africa; it came in really tough circumstances and that pitch did a lot more than this pitch did. But what makes me proud is I batted the whole day today.”That’s something I’ve always tried to do and haven’t done very often, so that’s very satisfying to bat a full day. It’s fantastic to have a score beside my name like I do, but as I’ve seen in the past if you don’t win the Test match, it means nothing.”At 251, Clarke has a galaxy of further batting milestones ahead to chase, but he is not thinking too much about them. On debut in Bangalore in 2004 he had been so concerned with mythology that he called for his baggy green cap to reach three figures in, even though India’s fast bowlers were on. This time, he said, there would be no such request if he went past 300.”I think I was a bit silly back then as a kid. I’ll be keeping my helmet on if the fast bowlers are on.”Respected and respectful, Clarke has come a long way. He can rightly expect to never again be the subject of words so unkind.