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Cricket World Cup final 2015: Clarke signs off with elegance and composure Cricket World Cup final 2015: Clarke signs off with elegance and composure
(about 4 hours later)
In most respects bar one central ingredient – the devastating force of left-arm pace and swing – there weren’t many similarities between this World Cup final and the last one the Melbourne Cricket Ground hosted back in 1992. There is though a pleasing kind of symmetry in the fact that a battle-weary captain, fighting against his body as much as his opponents and bowing out of the one-day international arena, should hoist the Cup into the Melbourne sky.In most respects bar one central ingredient – the devastating force of left-arm pace and swing – there weren’t many similarities between this World Cup final and the last one the Melbourne Cricket Ground hosted back in 1992. There is though a pleasing kind of symmetry in the fact that a battle-weary captain, fighting against his body as much as his opponents and bowing out of the one-day international arena, should hoist the Cup into the Melbourne sky.
If this final lacked the exhilarating joy of Wasim Akram’s yorkers, it was at least dominated by a worthy line of successors to his crown; Mitchell Johnson’s pace and hairy aggression, James Faulkner’s slights of hand and Mitchell Starc’s untamable swing.If this final lacked the exhilarating joy of Wasim Akram’s yorkers, it was at least dominated by a worthy line of successors to his crown; Mitchell Johnson’s pace and hairy aggression, James Faulkner’s slights of hand and Mitchell Starc’s untamable swing.
There was maybe a view that Michael Clarke had made this World Cup as much a personal mission as a team one, but he played a decisive role in finishing off Australia’s work across seven weeks of increasingly-clinical cricket. Clarke’s fluent and emphatic 74 took Australia to the brink of victory and finished his limited overs career on the highest of highs.There was maybe a view that Michael Clarke had made this World Cup as much a personal mission as a team one, but he played a decisive role in finishing off Australia’s work across seven weeks of increasingly-clinical cricket. Clarke’s fluent and emphatic 74 took Australia to the brink of victory and finished his limited overs career on the highest of highs.
Just as when Imran Khan found himself holding the fort with his side floundering at two wickets down against England in ‘92, this game threw up a situation tailor-made for present-day Clarke; 63-2 with 121 runs still required and twice as many deliveries in which to make them.Just as when Imran Khan found himself holding the fort with his side floundering at two wickets down against England in ‘92, this game threw up a situation tailor-made for present-day Clarke; 63-2 with 121 runs still required and twice as many deliveries in which to make them.
Related: Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia v New Zealand final – in picturesRelated: Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia v New Zealand final – in pictures
Gallant Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum has dragged his side from the status of cricketing non-entity to the brink of world cricket’s greatest prize but cruelly, his and Clarke’s respective innings couldn’t have provided a greater microcosm of the game; Australians keeping their heads, the Kiwis undone by their tendency towards relentless attack.Gallant Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum has dragged his side from the status of cricketing non-entity to the brink of world cricket’s greatest prize but cruelly, his and Clarke’s respective innings couldn’t have provided a greater microcosm of the game; Australians keeping their heads, the Kiwis undone by their tendency towards relentless attack.
On 14 Clarke slashed Matt Henry past the outstretched hand of Martin Guptill at gully but otherwise he treated the situation with the gravitas it begged. Once settled he launched, slapping Vettori for six and then reeling a potentially tricky target back to a mere formality.On 14 Clarke slashed Matt Henry past the outstretched hand of Martin Guptill at gully but otherwise he treated the situation with the gravitas it begged. Once settled he launched, slapping Vettori for six and then reeling a potentially tricky target back to a mere formality.
For Clarke this feels like stage two in a leadership trinity; the home Ashes win of 2013-14, a World Cup crown and looming on the horizon, a successful defence of the urn. His half-century was met with a spirited standing ovation from the packed but polite Melbourne crowd.For Clarke this feels like stage two in a leadership trinity; the home Ashes win of 2013-14, a World Cup crown and looming on the horizon, a successful defence of the urn. His half-century was met with a spirited standing ovation from the packed but polite Melbourne crowd.
For much of Australia’s innings – perhaps on account of nerves – their tensions and fears were never allowed to gain precedence or ascendency over the incessant PA sound-spews, that scourge of the modern sporting arena. In other games the Sri Lankans, Indians and Bangladeshis brought trumpets and whistles, Antipodeans at this one drummed their fingers on the edges of seats and rhythmically chewed at nails.For much of Australia’s innings – perhaps on account of nerves – their tensions and fears were never allowed to gain precedence or ascendency over the incessant PA sound-spews, that scourge of the modern sporting arena. In other games the Sri Lankans, Indians and Bangladeshis brought trumpets and whistles, Antipodeans at this one drummed their fingers on the edges of seats and rhythmically chewed at nails.
Anyway, this game was better absorbed through the eyes. Man of the tournament in the end, Starc ripped the heart out of the Kiwi batting line-up when he so emphatically removed McCullum for a frantic duck and then when Johnson claimed Williamson, the lungs of the New Zealand innings had been punctured as well.Anyway, this game was better absorbed through the eyes. Man of the tournament in the end, Starc ripped the heart out of the Kiwi batting line-up when he so emphatically removed McCullum for a frantic duck and then when Johnson claimed Williamson, the lungs of the New Zealand innings had been punctured as well.
That the match even remained a contest can be put down to a scratchy Ross Taylor and another heroic stand from Grant Elliott, whose sporting gesture in the semi-final was this week to cricket what Peter Landy’s hand of sportsmanship is to long-distance running. It’s no small gesture to be remembered by. That the match even remained a contest can be put down to a scratchy Ross Taylor and another heroic stand from Grant Elliott, whose sporting gesture in the semi-final was this week to cricket what John Landy’s hand of sportsmanship is to long-distance running. It’s no small gesture to be remembered by.
This game was atypical of Australia’s tournament because Clarke himself was the bold exclamation mark rather than the lingering ellipsis. He batted where he was listed, played the leading role in the back-breaking partnership with Steve Smith rather than chipping it around and in a tournament of souped-up ridicu-hitting, signed off with an innings of elegance and composure.This game was atypical of Australia’s tournament because Clarke himself was the bold exclamation mark rather than the lingering ellipsis. He batted where he was listed, played the leading role in the back-breaking partnership with Steve Smith rather than chipping it around and in a tournament of souped-up ridicu-hitting, signed off with an innings of elegance and composure.
As the night drew to a close it was also hard to escape the poetic dovetailing of Clarke finishing his one-day international career by the side of Smith, his heir in the leadership position and now at least his equal in batting excellence.As the night drew to a close it was also hard to escape the poetic dovetailing of Clarke finishing his one-day international career by the side of Smith, his heir in the leadership position and now at least his equal in batting excellence.
Just as Clarke’s ego had taken a back seat to the shifting momentum of the team in each game he played at this tournament, Smith showed his own capacity for batting empathy, deferring to his buoyant skipper and dropping anchor. Smith’s half-century was followed by a vigorous point of his trusty blade to the team-mates huddled at the boundary’s edge and his celebration of the winning runs served as a reminder of the boyishness that remains.Just as Clarke’s ego had taken a back seat to the shifting momentum of the team in each game he played at this tournament, Smith showed his own capacity for batting empathy, deferring to his buoyant skipper and dropping anchor. Smith’s half-century was followed by a vigorous point of his trusty blade to the team-mates huddled at the boundary’s edge and his celebration of the winning runs served as a reminder of the boyishness that remains.
Moments earlier the outgoing Australian captain had left the field to strains of Hunters and Collectors’ ‘Throw Your Arms Around me’. Not long after, his team-mates took up the chance with relish.Moments earlier the outgoing Australian captain had left the field to strains of Hunters and Collectors’ ‘Throw Your Arms Around me’. Not long after, his team-mates took up the chance with relish.