Today’s WCup final is Clarke’s last one-dayer
Print Edition
AUSTRALIA captain Michael Clarke has added a fresh edge to today’s blockbuster Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand in Melbourne by announcing the match will be his last one-day international.
“I think it’s the right time for me and the Australian cricket team,” the 33-year-old Clarke said yesterday.
“I made the decision 48 hours ago when I asked myself if I thought I would be playing in the next World Cup and I said to myself that ‘I don’t think I will be’,” added Clarke, whose career has been blighted by back and hamstring problems.
Clarke has played 244 one-day internationals, scoring 7,907 runs with a top score of 130 since his debut in 2003.
He intends to keep playing tests, however, having already featured in 108 matches, with 8,432 runs and a highest score of 329 not out.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum struck the first psychological blow when he named his team 24 hours before the final.
Unsurprisingly, the Black Caps retained the same side which edged out South Africa in the semifinals.
“It’s captivated the country back home, it’s immensely satisfying but we have to build on it. Gee it would be nice to win it,” said McCullum.
New Zealand go into its first title clash in cricket’s 50-overs-a-side showpiece as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, having won eight games in a row. New Zealand’s first semifinal win in seven attempts left an enthralled rugby-mad nation backing their cricketers to take home a trophy that has so far eluded it in the World Cup’s 40-year history.
Australia, the top-ranked ODI side, is bidding for a fifth World Cup title.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
