The pair were therefore due to be on opposing sides when Great Britain played New Zealand in the 2010 MacRobertson Shield, before Clarke withdrew with a back injury.
In November 2012, he completed the requisite ten matches needed to return to the world rankings, which he did in first place.
Clarke switched to represent New Zealand following his controversial non-selection for England's golf croquet squad, and was a member of their victorious 2014 MacRobertson Shield team, playing at number 1 where he was the player in the event with the most wins.
He finished his career having won 9 World titles and never having lost a major International Test Match.
Clarke started playing croquet while a 13-year-old student at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn under the coaching of French teacher Andrew Bennet.