ARUNDEL, England, 10 June 2005 — Michael Clarke took a hat trick in Australia’s opening match of their tour of England yesterday.
Left-arm wrist spinner Clarke, primarily a batsman, was the pick of the attack as Australia held a Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) Masters XI to 167 for six in a Twenty20 match. Clarke, who has played county cricket in England for Hampshire, took three for 36 in his permitted four overs after Brett Lee struck with the first ball of the tour.
If not quite in the class of Hampshire captain and Australia leg-spin great Shane Warne, Clarke’s performance was certainly more than handy on the day and included Test hopeful Kevin Pietersen. Ex-England batsman Darren Maddy, 70 not out off 57 balls with one six and eight fours, top-scored for the PCA.
The Leicestershire player put on 72 with Mark Ealham for the sixth wicket after Australia, looking to win a ninth successive Ashes series, won the toss.
The crowd were treated to a pre-match fly-past by a British World War II Spitfire plane in a fixture where proceeds were being donated to PCA charities.
