BRISBANE — Captain Michael Clarke said positive batting had been the key to his unbeaten double century and Australia's remarkable turnaround of fortunes in the first Test against South Africa Monday. Clarke came to the wicket with his side at 40-3 in reply to South Africa's 450 Sunday afternoon and more than eight hours of batting later, was targeting what would be a stunning victory with his team on 487-4. The 31-year-old carried his bat to the pavilion with 218 runs on the board having shared a record partnership of 259 with Ed Cowan, who scored his maiden Test century in an innings of 136, and another stand of 188 with Mike Hussey (86 not out). Much of the talk before the series had been about the South African pace attack of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel and it was from an Australian bowling great of the past, Shane Warne, that Clarke drew his inspiration to neuter them. “One of things Warney's taught me over the years is the better the bowling, the more positive you've got to be and that was certainly my intent from the first ball I faced yesterday,” Clarke told reporters. “I wanted to be nice and positive and play my way, and put it back on the South African bowlers because I know they're a very good attack. “I think Ed and I just tried to play our natural games. We had a bit of luck along the way and Michael Hussey showed great intent, scored very freely and continued to show his class. “When you're under pressure, that's when I generally play my best cricket.” Clarke's form since he took over as captain from Ricky Ponting last year has been little short of brilliant with a batting average of over 60 in that period and six Test centuries under his belt. Clarke continued his flourishing batting form as skipper with his 20th Test hundred and his third double century of the year, after his unbeaten 329 and 210 against India at home in January. He is the highest scorer in Tests this year with 1,000 runs at 111.11 and as Australian captain is averaging over 60 with the bat. His stand with Cowan was the highest fourth-wicket partnership by Australia at the Gabba, surpassing Clarke and Mike Hussey's 245-run effort against Sri Lanka in 2007. It was also the biggest fourth-wicket stand by Australia against South Africa and the fifth biggest overall against the Proteas in Test history. The partnership was only ended by a freakish run-out of Cowan for 136 shortly before tea. He batted for 388 minutes and hit 18 boundaries. It was the only wicket South Africa took all day. The left-hander backed up too far at the non-striker's end and was out when bowler Dale Steyn got his fingers to a stinging Clarke drive and deflected the ball onto the stumps. It was Cowan's first century in his eighth Test match and dispelled doubts about his Test credentials after coming into the series with an average of 29.86. — Reuters
