After winning the battle against Indian spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, Australia's Test debutant Michael Clarke on Thursday said that the tour of 2003 for a tri-series helped him adapt to the subcontinent conditions.
"It helped definitely to play One-Day Internationals in India," the 23-year-old said after cracking 151 on debut in the first Test in Bangalore on Thursday.
Clarke became the 17th Australian to make a hundred in his Test debut, and the first from his country to do it abroad since Harry Graham scored a century at The Lord's in 1893.
"It is a fantastic moment and a very special day. I am also very proud of making the century in front of my parents," he said.
"It is nice to have them here. Once I was selected in the squad to tour India. I decided to fly them over," said Clarke who on Wednesday became Australia's 389th Test player.