Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has been honoured by Cricket Australia as the 64th player to be inducted in the sporting body’s Hall of Fame.

A decade on since he hung up the bat with 8643 Test runs, Clarke was on Thursday revealed as the latest inductee.

A further two inductees will be announced by Cricket Australian soon.

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The Hall of Fame honour was one Clarke admitted he was “very surprised” by.

“It is extremely special to be able to sit alongside so many wonderful players, idols and role models that I looked up to as a kid is something I’m honoured by,” he said at the SCG on Thursday.

“I’m very proud to be [inducted] at this venue (the SCG). Growing up as a young boy, cricket was my life… and to be able to play at the SCG was a dream.

“I was pretty lucky that I got to do with New South Wales and Australia.

“Now having a daughter and being at sport every Saturday morning and everyday after school, I now understand the sacrifices (my) parents made.

“There is probably a million people that I need to thank, but to my family, all my teammates and all those I played against… thank you.”

Australian Cricket Hall of Fame chairman Peter King applauded the success of the player “who defined his generation.”

“The selection committee was met with statistics of a player who at his peak was ranked the best Test batter in the world,” King said.

“More than that, Michael was an exceptional leader of our men’s Test and ODI teams who had sustained a period of success under his captaincy.

“While often lauded for his batting prowess, Michael also excelled with ball in hand having helped Australia secure victory in the 2008 Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a spell of 3-5 in 1.5 overs with just seven balls remaining in the match.

“Michael’s career will forever be remembered fondly by the Australian public and his standing held alongside those at the upper echelon of our game.”

After bursting onto the scene as a teen prodigy, Clarke donned the baggy green in 115 Test matches, making 28 centuries and 27 half-centuries.

Clarke’s success with the bat positions him among the most decorated players in the 21st century, having won two World Cups, the Ashes and several individual honours.

At his peak, the Sydney sensation sat atop of the world batting rankings.

In 2011 Clarke succeeded Ricky Pointing as skipper of the Test team, a position he held until his retirement from professional cricket in 2015.

Clarke has maintained a close connection to the cricket world working as a radio pundit.