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Michael Clarke to retire from ODIs after World Cup final

Michael Clarke (AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMAD FAROOQ)
28th March, 2015
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BREAKING: Michael Clarke has announced he will retire from One Day International cricket after Sunday’s Cricket World Cup final.

The decision, which was announced in today’s pre-match press conference, has surprised some as he had stated in a recent press conference: “I have had injury concerns since I was 17 years of age and I have managed to play over 200 one-dayers and over 100 Test matches so it hasn’t stopped me to date. And I don’t think it will do after this series either.”

Clarke, who turns 34 next week, says he wants to prolong his Test career.

The decision was made by the Australian skipper only “48 hours ago” after his team’s win against India in the Cricket World Cup semi-final.

“I think I got back to my house at about 12.30. Kyly was in bed and that’s when I spoke to her about it. I know I’ve made the right decision.”

“I told my teammates 10 minutes ago. I told the selectors and James Sutherland about an hour ago.”

“I’m extremely thankful and grateful – I’ve just found out that tomorrow will be my 245th one-day game – it’s been an honour and a privilege to represent my country for that amount of games. I’m grateful to every player I have been lucky enough to play with and this team is no exception to that.

“I think it is the right time for me and the Australian team. I was very fortunate four years ago to get the opportunity to captain this one-day team. That was really good preparation for me leading up to this World Cup, I think the next Australian captain deserves the same opportunity.

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“I don’t think it is realistic that I’ll be fit and healthy and available to play the next World Cup so I believe it is the right time.

“I think I’ll leave the one-day game for the Australian team in a better place than when I took over the captaincy.

“Last World Cup we were knocked out in the quarter-final, this World Cup we have been able to make the final and hopefully tomorrow we can go on and have success in that final. So two finals and one quarter-final for my time in World Cups.”

Michael Clarke faces the media scrum (photo: Simon Smale) Michael Clarke faces the media scrum (photo: Simon Smale)

His battles with repeated back and hamstring injuries have been well documented, and it is believed his focus now moves to prolonging his Test career.

Clarke has scored 7,907 runs in 244 one-day internationals.

MICHAEL CLARKE’S ODI CAREER:
* Started in 2003 when he made 39 not out against England at Adelaide Oval
* Left out of the squad for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, which Australia won without dropping a game
* Dominated the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, scoring 436 runs at an average of 87.2
* Appointed vice-captain in 2008 after the retirement of Adam Gilchrist
* Led the side for the first time in 2008 when Ricky Ponting was injured, Australia winning by one run but Clarke copping a fine for the side’s slow over rate
* Scored eight in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final, when Australia’s hopes of a fourth straight crown were dashed by eventual champions India
* Ponting stepped down from the leadership post a week after the 2011 tournament, with Clarke becoming both Test and ODI captain
* Back and hamstring issues in 2013 and 2014 meant he played 11 of a possible 33 ODIs leading up to the 2015 World Cup
* Was passed fit for Australia’s second pool game in the 2015 World Cup, the deadline selectors had nominated for him to take part in the tournament after hamstring surgery
* Told teammates, selectors and Cricket Australia on Saturday that the 2015 World Cup final would be his last ODI

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* ODI RUNS: 7907 at average of 44.42 (only Australians to have scored more are Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh)

* WORLD CUP RUNS: 814 at average of 62.61 (only Australians to have scored more are Ponting, Gilchrist, Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Steve Waugh and David Boon)

* HIGH SCORE: 130 in a ODI against India at Bangalore in 2007 that was washed out

* RECORD AS CAPTAIN: 49 wins from 73 ODIs

* ODI RUNS AS CAPTAIN: 2671 at average of 45.27

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