Clarke had a broken shoulder

Sydney - Australia captain Michael Clarke's courageous century in the decisive Third Test against South Africa took on added significance Monday when it was revealed he played with a fractured shoulder.

Clarke weathered a fearsome barrage of bouncers on the first day of the Cape Town Test this month, being hit on the forearm, elbow, shoulder and helmet in a fiery spell of short-pitched bowling by Morne Morkel.

He went on to a make a pivotal 161 not out, hailed by many as the best knock of his career, to help his team deliver a 2-1 series victory.