Michael Clarke’s decision to announce his One Day International retirement a day before the 2015 World Cup final, has divided opinions.
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There are some who believe the Australian captain jumped the gun by making it public today. If he had held on to this news for another 24 hours, the focus could have been more on what is going to be a momentous occasion for Australian cricket.
But by making it known to the world on the eve of the match, Clarke has selfishly shifted the focus on himself. There will be a lot of emotions involved for the Australian team, and the other 10 players will face heightened expectations of ensuring that they give their departing captain a suitable farewell.
And yet, there are others who will argue that there is not one selfish bone in Clarke, who has been a team man to the core from the moment he started playing cricket.
Irrespective of the timing, the 33-year-old Clarke has tried to impress again and again that it is a decision he needed to take for the long-term good of Australian cricket.
He retires at a time when Australia are the No1 team in ICC ODI rankings. And he remains in charge of the Test team, which is second behind South Africa.
Clarke said there were three reasons for him to bid adieu to the 50-over format of the game – he feels he will not be able to make it to the 2019 World Cup team; he wants to give whoever is named the new ODI captain the chance to build up his own team and strategies over a period of four years, and thirdly, he wants to concentrate on Test cricket.
I may not be able to comment on the motives behind Clarke’s timing, but his decisions and actions over the years have shown him to be somebody who has always kept Australia’s interest uppermost in his mind.
It starts from how he has gone about his own batting position, despite the fact that he clearly enjoyed playing at No3. Even in the Sydney semi-final, he gave away his own position at two-down, because he thought Glenn Maxwell would make better use of the situation. But this he has been doing for a long time, having batted at all positions from No1 to No6.
In today’s modern cricket, when players are quitting Test cricket to prolong their Twenty20 and ODI career – which is without doubt a lot more lucrative option for them – Clarke is one of the very few players who quit in reverse order – first from T20 in 2011, then from ODIs now, and is going to keep playing Test cricket for some more time.
congratulations @MClarke23 for being a great captain you’ll be missed in the ODI’s your an inspiration GOOD LUCK TOMORROW to you & the team
— Dianne Duff (@DianneDV) March 28, 2015
So, by denying himself financially, it is quite clear that Clarke’s decision was made more from his heart, than from his head. And that is how Clarke has played cricket and lived his life.
You don’t have to hardened theatre critic to know that the emotions Clarke was going through during the untimely and tragic death of Phillip Hughes, his teammate and close friend, were genuine and not acting.
Michael Clarke is retiring tomorrow. He needs 93 runs to become only 4th Australian to 8000 runs in ODIs. #cwc15
— Mazher Arshad (@cricket_U) March 28, 2015
Clarke feels for the team and his players. And most Australian players whom I have spoken to, seem to reciprocate the same respect and affection for their captain.
It could even be a well-calculated strategy of Clarke’s to fire up the boys in Gold and Yellow and ensure he gets his hands around the Cup tomorrow for that one final ODI glory. Or, perhaps it could be a rare slip in his judgement. But let’s not blot his magnificent career because of one mistimed comment.
