Haddin hails Clarke as `best batsman in world` after `stylish` Ashes century

Johannesburg –  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 has moved his deputy Brad Haddin to rate him the world’s best batsman, according to reports.

According to Sport24, the 32-year-old Clarke has now scored four tons from his nine tests in Adelaide, not including two further double-centuries and four 50s to average a brilliant 104.75 and it was almost a shock to the crowd of 35 000 when he miscued a drive to be caught after lunch.

The crowd rose as one to give Clarke a standing ovation, however, and vice captain Haddin continued the tributes later after blasting his own way to 118, the report said.

Haddin said that one could definitely make a good argument for whether Clarke is the world’s best batsman.

He added that once Clarke gets past 20, he seems to go on and get some really big hundreds, adding that his form over the last two years has been as good as anyone in the world.