Clarke to retire from ODIs

The Australian captain wants to prolong his Test career

Michael Clarke, who announced his retirement from the ODIs, says it was the right time to quit the shorter format of the game and give the new skipper enough time to build the team.

Michael Clarke will retire from One-Day International cricket at the end of the World Cup final here on Sunday.

The Australian captain made the announcement at his pre-match press conference, bringing an end to the speculation around his future. However, he will continue to lead Australia in Test cricket.

“Tomorrow will be my last ODI game for Australia,” the 33-year-old said. “I just found out that tomorrow will be my 245th ODI for Australia.

“It’s certainly been an honour and a privilege to represent my country for that amount of games, and I’m grateful to every single player I’ve been lucky enough to play with.

“It’s the right time for me and the Australian cricket team.”

Clarke’s ODI career was called into question after an unending spate of injuries. His presence in the World Cup squad was at one time not guaranteed, and he remained at loggerheads with the selectors.

“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.

“I think the next Australian captain deserves the same opportunity,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s realistic that I’ll be here fit and healthy for the next World Cup, so it’s the right time.”

Clarke revealed that he had taken the decision after the win over India in the semifinals.

His mind was made up when he realised he would not be around for the next World Cup and prolonging his Test career was a priority, he said.

“I think I leave the one-day game in a better place than when I took over the captaincy.

“In the last World Cup we were knocked out in the quarterfinals, and this World Cup we’ve been able to make the final, and hopefully we can go on and have success in that final.

“Tomorrow will be exactly the same as it’s been every single time I’ve walked out onto the field to play cricket for Australia. Extremely special,” he said. Clarke made his ODI debut against England in Adelaide in January 2003.

He has 7907 runs from 244 matches, at an average of 44.42. His left-arm spin, highly useful but increasingly rare in the second half of his career owing to injury, fetched him 57 wickets.

Underrated ODI player

He’s an underrated one-day cricketer, who demonstrated his talent early on with a memorable performance in the final of the TVS Cup in 2003.

He ambushed India that night in Calcutta, making an impact with both bat and ball.

Clarke polarises opinion in Australia but his Ashes success, his phenomenal run-making in Test cricket, and his conduct in the aftermath of Phil Hughes’s demise have seemingly earned him respect.

“I think your legacy is dictated by what your teammates think of you to be honest,” he said, before his voice choked up at the mention of Hughes.

“I think a lot of my legacy will be based around what happened recently off the field with my little brother.”