Michael Clarke retirement: Australia captain exits ODI arena gracefully and without fuss

MICHAEL Clarke never whispered a word to teammates about his one-day retirement, but the Australia was far from surprised when he did.

Australian training at MCG ahead of World Cup Final, Michael Clarke in the nets. Melbourne. 28th March 2015. Picture: Colleen Petch.

MICHAEL Clarke never whispered a word to teammates about his one-day retirement, but he didn’t need to.

There was something epic about his fight back from hamstring surgery, which suggested finality.

Meeting his World Cup deadline and leading teammates into battle against the odds was an inspirational example of hard work and dedication that was just waiting for the stage of a final to make it all seem like destiny.

Perhaps that’s why there were no shocked silences when Clarke broke the news to his fellow players as unemotionally as he could yesterday, in the back room of the MCG dressing sheds.

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Michael Clarke shares a laugh with Brendon McCullum.

The response from the room was simple but emphatic. Loud and sustained applause.

Australia’s young stars believe they are well positioned to kick on without Clarke, but first they intend to give their skipper the send-off he deserves.

With all things captaincy, timing is everything, and it would seem Clarke has got it spot on with his curtain call.

“He hadn’t actually spoken about it … but it wasn’t shock I don’t think,” James Faulkner told News Corp.

“The boys were just in the back room before we started unpacking our bags.

“He wanted to keep everyone in a good frame of mind. He was very positive about the news and I think the main thing that’s on everyone’s mind is doing well in the final.

“There was a loud clap and why wouldn’t there be? He’s had a fantastic career.

“I think the balance of the team over the past 12 months has been really good and young players have gotten a lot of games under their belt.

“He’s definitely left it in a good place.

“I’m sure he’s got a lot of Test cricket left in him, but more importantly, the boys will be looking to put in a strong performance and do him proud and he can go out on a high.”

Clarke’s leadership was absolutely vital for this World Cup campaign.

For all the noise made about selectors trying to “break” their skipper, they made it clear all along they wanted Clarke at the helm.

Australia would have fielded a formidable side without Clarke, but there’s enough wise heads at CA to know that these tournaments are won on experience.

However, looking beyond today’s historic final, it is important that a transitional phase begins under the man of the future Steve Smith.

Clarke will be missed.

His legacy is his insatiable hard work and professionalism and the respect he commanded for that from friends and foes alike.

Clarke, like Ricky Ponting before him, is a captain who set the benchmark for performance.

“He’s obviously a fantastic competitor,” said Faulkner.

“His leadership on the ground is sensational. The way works the bowlers and the way he sets the field — he has a very good cricket brain.

“And they’re not natural things that come around every day.

“He’s worked really hard on that his whole career and his record is fantastic as skipper.”

The good news for Australia is that his successor Steve Smith has shown the same hallmarks as a leader.

There are few people in Australian cricket with better perspective than Adam Gilchrist, and yesterday was an interesting day for the legendary wicketkeeper to drop into training.

Gilchrist too was not shocked.

The one-day team will survive with our without Clarke, but the Test team needs him.

With a body that has copped as much punishment as Clarke’s, Gilchrist says the time was right to focus in on what’s best for Australian cricket.

Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum embrace ahead of the World Cup final.

“I think it’s a really well judged decision, primarily for him to be able to get the best out of himself for Test cricket,” said Gilchrist.

“I think physically everyone knows the complications he’s got, so it allows him to extend that career.

“His numbers stack up as some of the more formidable in one day cricket, so it’s been an outstanding career. But it seems like the game’s moving on … I’m sure he probably feels to an extent that there was a new type of cricket being played not quite his style so all the better for him to try and maximise Test cricket.

“Physically, to give the back a rest and have time off between Tests will be good.”