Australian cricket team captain Michael Clarke pauses as he speaks in front of he Baggy Green and other state representative caps belonging to Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes during his funeral service in the town of Macksville, located north of Sydne
Australian cricket team captain Michael Clarke pauses as he speaks in front of he Baggy Green and other state representative caps belonging to Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes during his funeral service in the town of Macksville, located north of Sydney December 3, 2014. The funeral of Australian test cricketer Phillip Hughes began to the strains of a song entitled "Forever Young" in his home town on Wednesday as a nation united to celebrate the life of a sportsman cut down in his prime. Eight days after Hughes was struck by a ball in the back of the head and six after he died of the catastrophic injuries that resulted, his family, friends and a host of cricketing greats gathered at Macksville High School to bid farewell to him. Cameron Spencer

On the second day of the first Test Match of the Border Gvaskar Trophy between Australia and India, Australian captain Michael Clarke scored his 28th Test Century pregnant with 16 elegant boundaries cementing his side's position in the Test Match. Not only is he the overall best batsmen in his side, his leadership skills and personality have made him a true ambassador of the game.

His technique is old school. The influences of the modern game have not disturbed the solidity of his defense or the purity of his stroke play. His presence might not scare the opposition bowler mentally but his long stay in the crease will most definitely exhaust them physically. Should he be able to keep his back injury at bay he will has the potential to surpass the legendary Don Bradman and his previous team mates in Mathew Hayden and Steve Waugh at 30 and 32 Test Match centuries respectively. Ricky Ponting is the only person a little ahead of him at 41 career Test centuries by an Australian.

Apart from his batting, his leadership skills are also invaluable to the side. With no clear successor in sight his presence in the side becomes very important to fill a void. Australian cricket teams in the past had quite a few players capable of leading the side in the absence of the skipper. Unfortunately this Australian cricket team does not have such riches thus Clarke's presence in the team becomes all the more crucial.

Lastly, the way he handled the Phillip Hughes crisis by representing and leading the team off the field was an example for not only cricket but to the society at large. His dignified outpouring of emotions provided even more proof of the kind of involvement that he has with the team and that most certainly will earn the respect of his team mates and the cricket loving public even more.