Australia captain Michael Clarke dropped a bombshell on the eve of the World Cup final by announcing he will retire from one-day cricket after Sunday’s title-decider against New Zealand at the MCG.
The 33-year-old said it was the “right time” for him to step back from the ODI format in order to prolong his test career and to allow his successor to take the one-day team forward.
Tomorrow will be my last ODI game for Australia.
–Michael Clarke
Sunday will mark Clarke’s 245th one-day game for Australia, and the Aussie skipper said it had been “an honor and a privilege” to represent his country in that amount of games.
I don’t think it’s realistic that I’ll be fit and healthy and available to play the next World Cup so I believe it’s the right time.
I was very fortunate four years ago to get the opportunity to captain this one-day team and that was really good preparation for me leading up to this World Cup, and I think the next Australian captain deserves the same opportunity.
–Michael Clarke
George Bailey led Australia in their opening match of the World Cup against England but was replaced when Clarke returned to fitness after hamstring surgery.
Steve Smith, who led the test team with aplomb in the series win over India, will also be heavily backed to succeed Clarke.
Clarke has been in scratchy form with the bat, with just one half-century against Sri Lanka in the pool phase of the World Cup.
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