This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/28/michael-clarke-retire-odi-world-cup

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Michael Clarke to retire from ODI matches after World Cup final Michael Clarke to retire from ODI matches after World Cup final
(35 minutes later)
Michael Clarke will retire from ODI cricket after Sunday’s World Cup final.Michael Clarke will retire from ODI cricket after Sunday’s World Cup final.
Clarke announced the news in Saturday’s pre-match press conference, revealing the trans-Tasman decider will be his final ODI.Clarke announced the news in Saturday’s pre-match press conference, revealing the trans-Tasman decider will be his final ODI.
Clarke suggested he only reached closure on the decision “about 48 hours ago” when he returned home from the semi-final against India in Sydney. Thoughts of Australia’s 2019 World Cup campaign were in the forefront of his mind when he made the decision. He said he realised there was no chance he’d still be leading the side in four years.
“I got back to my house at about 12.30. Kyly was in bed and that’s when I spoke to her about it,” he said. Steve Smith is yet to be confirmed as Clarke’s successor.
“I know I’ve made the right decision. However, that is expected to happen soon given Smith became Australia’s third youngest Test captain during the summer when Clarke was injured.
“I told my teammates 10 minutes ago. I told the selectors and (Cricket Australia boss) James Sutherland about an hour ago.” Related: Why the MCG will play a big role in the 2015 Cricket World Cup final | Russell Jackson
The 33-year-old will continue to play Test cricket. Clarke said it wasn’t fair to talk about who would takeover, but that it was important they had four years to mould the side.
“I’m hopeful it will prolong my Test career and that’s a priority for me,” Clarke said. “I was very fortunate four years ago to get the opportunity to captain this one-day team and that was really good preparation for this World Cup,” Clarke said.
“I don’t feel bad about saying I feel that Test cricket is the toughest part of our game. I love that challenge. “The next Australian captain deserves the same opportunity.
“It really helped me having that preparation ... to build my own team and set my own style up as a captain.”
Clarke had been thinking about the decision for some time but only made his mind up after returning home from Thursday’s semi-final against India.
“I got back to my house at about 12.30, (his wife) Kyly was in bed and that’s when I spoke to her about it,” he said.
“I told my teammates 10 minutes ago. I told the selectors and (Cricket Australia boss) James Sutherland about an hour ago.
“There’s no doubt I could keep playing (ODI cricket) for the next couple of years ... but I know I’ve made the right decision.”
Clarke will continue to play Test cricket.
“I’m hopeful it will prolong my Test career and that’s a priority for me,” he said.
“I don’t feel bad about saying I feel that Test cricket is the toughest part of our game.
“I see it as the pinnacle ... I feel like I’ve still got a lot to offer the Australian Test team as captain.”“I see it as the pinnacle ... I feel like I’ve still got a lot to offer the Australian Test team as captain.”
Steve Smith is yet to be confirmed as Clarke’s successor, but given the 25-year-old filled in as Clarke’s understudy during the Test series it’s expected to happen soon. Sutherland was full of praise for Clarke, adding that his decision came as “something of a surprise”.
“Smithy has certainly matured as a player and a person,” Clarke said. “Michael leaves one-day cricket on his own terms, aiming to finish on an absolute high, in front of a packed MCG as a possible World Cup-winning captain,” Sutherland said.
“I don’t think it would be fair for me to go into who is going to be the next captain, it’s not my place. It’s up to the selectors.” “Regardless of the result, he will leave the one-day international game as one our greats.”
Clarke noted once he realised he wouldn’t be playing in the 2019 World Cup it was an easy decision. Sunday’s title decider will be Clarke’s 245th ODI, ending a stellar career that started in 2003. He netted 7907 runs at an average of 44.42.
“There’s no doubt I could keep playing for the next couple of years,” he said. Only Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh have scored more ODI runs for Australia.
“But the team and the next captain deserves the time and preparation (for the 2019 World Cup).”