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Michael Clarke dedicates Australia’s World Cup win to Phillip Hughes Michael Clarke dedicates Australia’s World Cup win to Phillip Hughes
(about 2 hours later)
The Australia captain Michael Clarke dedicated his side’s World Cup success to his former team-mate Phillip Hughes. Australia’s retiring captain Michael Clarke dedicated his side’s World Cup success to his former team-mate Phillip Hughes.
Clarke led his side to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scoring 74 as he bowed out of one-day cricket in style.Clarke led his side to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scoring 74 as he bowed out of one-day cricket in style.
The 33-year-old said the win was dedicated to Hughes, who died aged 25 in November after being struck on the head by a bouncer. “Hughesy’s thought about and spoken about on a daily basis,” said Clarke, who wore a black armband with the initials PH on it. “Probably the last couple of months, for me personally, it’s probably been harder than when he passed away.
Speaking about the black armband he was wearing on his left arm, Clarke told Sky Sports World Cup: “As you can see it’s got PH on it. I’ll wear it every game I play for Australia. “We are still thinking about him, we are still talking about him and we always will. We believe we played this World Cup with 16 players in our squad and that will continue for the rest of my career, that’s for sure.”
“I think for everybody in Australian cricket it’s been really tough few months. I’m sure I don’t just speak for myself, I’m sure everybody standing on this stage tonight will say that we’ve played this World Cup with 16 players and tonight is certainly dedicated to our little brother and our team-mate Phillip Hughes. Clarke said he’d preached a philosophy of skill over emotion to his players in their bid to win the World Cup. “It has been emotional, there’s no doubt about it.”
“Hughes used to party as good as any of them so I’ll make sure we drink two [beers] at a time tonight, one for Hughesy and one for us.” He also painted a positive outlook for Australia’s limited overs future.
Clarke, who struck 10 fours and one six off 72 balls, and Steve Smith (56 not out) put on a third-wicket partnership of 112 as the hosts made light work of reaching their 184-run target with 101 balls remaining. “This team is full of amazing talent and I think at the end of a lot of their careers they’ll be greats of the game.”
Grant Elliott had earlier top-scored with 83 off 82 balls for New Zealand, but his team-mates only managed to muster 100 further runs between them as a powerplay began their collapse in the 36th over and they lost three wickets for just one run. Clarke paid tribute to his bowlers, identifying them as the catalyst for his side’s cup win. “It’s no coincidence why we sit here World Cup winners. I think our bowlers won us the World Cup.Our batters certainly stood up and grabbed their opportunities but I think our bowling performances in every single game have been exceptional.”
Mitchell Johnson claimed figures of three for 30 and James Faulkner three for 36 in Australia’s attack. Clarke, who announced his retirement from one-day international cricket on the eve of the final, said he could not have finished his limited overs international career on a better note and felt fulfilled.
Clarke said: “We’re really proud, it’s a wonderful achievement. It’s a great thing just to make a World Cup final, but to be able to win in your own back yard in front of your family and friends is extremely special and I guarantee we’ll celebrate hard tonight. Obviously I’m over the moon. What a tournament. “Now I know it’s the right time. There’s no such thing as fairytales in sport but that’s probably as close as it gets for me, not only to win a World Cup but to win in front of your home fans.”
“The New Zealand team deserve a lot of credit . They’re always a tough team to beat it seems in any sporting event. Australia v New Zealand is always an exciting contest and tonight was no different.” “I said, after our semi-final, that mentally we were ready for this final and I think we showed that. The whole squad deserves a lot of credit.”
Clarke, who announced his retirement from one-day cricket on Saturday, praised the fans and his team for getting them through to the final. Although the Australia captain was given a standing ovation following his match-shaping 74, he said his primary focus was on the collective achievement.
He added: “To the Australian fans, to all the fans of the game of cricket, I think it’s been an amazing turnout this tournament. To the support we’ve had over the tournament, thanks to every Australian and cricket supporter out there. “Even announcing my retirement from one-day cricket yesterday I really didn’t want to take anything away from the team,” said Clarke. “I wanted that applause for the team.”
“Thanks, most importantly to that amazing team including support staff. I couldn’t have asked any more than for the support I’ve received since coming back into the team. He pointed to the discipline and dedication of his players, half a dozen of whom headed to the nets during the innings break in order to prepare for the run chase. “I’m extremely proud and really happy with how the day panned out.”
“The way they’ve stood up and played they certainly deserve to stand here tonight and hold that trophy up.” “I think New Zealand deserve a lot of credit for the way they played throughout this tournament. We have the utmost respect for that team and I guess my relationship with Brendon is very close and I wish them all the best for their future.”
He added: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent my country in both Test and one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket. Clarke wouldn’t be drawn into debate about a number of verbal barbs following key New Zealand wickets, saying he was too far away from the action to judge. “Obviously it’s a World Cup final. There’s passion, there’s excitement, there’s adrenalin running through the guys’ bodies,” he said. “I don’t think there was anything that was below the belt.”
“The time is right for me to walk away from one-day cricket, but I’ll keep playing Test cricket.” Reflecting on the ability of Australian sides to stand up when it counts, Clarke added, “I think the Australian way has always been about the big games. The big players always stood up in major tournaments and weren’t scared of losing.”
As for the future, Clarke wouldn’t be drawn on specifics regarding his ongoing Test career, nor his availability for domestic Twenty20 competitions. “I’m still really excited about Test cricket and I’ll have a think about the T20 format moving forward but I don’t want rush away from this feeling right now and this moment. I want to enjoy the next few days.”
New Zealand’s captain, Brendon McCullum, praised the hosts for their victory and gave credit to Clarke as he bowed out of the shorter format of the game.
“It’s been one hell of a ride for us right the way through,” he said. “I think we’ve played some outstanding cricket and we ran into an outstanding Australia team tonight who continue to set the way in international cricket. They deserve to be champions. Michael Clarke deserves to bow out a World Cup-winning champion too. They were outstanding in this World Cup and thoroughly deserved to win.
“We were the second-best team on the day and all credit to Australia.”
McCullum took time to reflect on the tournament as a whole and said he was “proud” of his team’s performances as they became the first New Zealand side to reach a World Cup final.
He added: “We’ve forged some memories and friendships that will last forever.
“Obviously we’re not able to lift the trophy but the brand of cricket and the entertainment that we’ve been able to give people throughout our country and throughout the world is something we’re immensely proud of.
“We have no regrets and we walk away from this tournament with our heads held high.
“It’s the greatest time of your life to be able to represent your country on the international stage with a group of friends and then put your skills against the world’s best - it is the greatest time of our lives and that’s how we tried to play the game, play with a free spirit and plenty of heart all the way along.
“It’s taken us so far in this tournament but we weren’t obviously able to get over the final hurdle, but it’s something that I’m immensely proud of, all the guys in the team, all the management group and all those that have been part of this team over the last few years and helped build us into what we are.
“We’ve still got some work to do but we can be very proud of our achievements in this tournament.”