Michael Clarke is farewelling cricket.
“It’s nice, because, yes it’s the end of my career and I’m very fortunate to have played as much as I have for Australia”, said Clarke.
Michael Clarke believes Australia showed their true colours by thrashing England at The Oval in his final worldwide appearance.
The result will give Australian fans optimism for the future, but will simultaneously reinforce the frustration that comes with the belief this was an Ashes series Australia could have won. England’s big advantage, looking back with all the benefit of hindsight, lies in being 18 months further along that particular road.
Unfortunately for Clarke and Australia opener Chris Rogers, also retiring from worldwide cricket, the convincing win came too late to sway the destiny of the Ashes, with England taking the five-match series 3-2.
When impressive paceman Peter Siddle had Moeen Ali (35) caught behind, England, following-on, had been dismissed for 286 in their second innings.
After an extended rain delayed they accomplished the feat then watched as England celebrated winning the urn.
“Credit to Australia and the character they showed to bounce back here”.
“I don’t think regret is the right word”. We were off the pace in this game but I’m not going to worry too much if I’m brutally honest. I think we had enough to play for, that’s for sure.
Australia now start their journey down the same uncertain road; they have some catching up to do before the next Ashes campaign.
“You never want to say goodbye, but there comes a time for everyone”. At certain moments we’ve had outstanding performances by members of our side.
Root won the Compton-Miller medal, the award presented to the player of the series, for his 460 runs that propelled him to the world’s No1 ranking in Test cricket and helped England to move to third place in the Test rankings.
I’m pretty sad actually.
“I have had a fantastic journey and having the honour of finishing at the same time as an Aussie great is incredible and that’s a privilege”.
By the time the rain eventually cleared and groundstaff had removed all of the surface water it was 3pm.
The hosts resumed at 8/258.
Clarke denied there was a sense of remorse about his final series.
UMPIRES called for the covers to be put on the pitches with Australia two wickets away from victory in the fifth Test.
England are just four points behind Australia but tough winter assignments against Pakistan and South Africa await and the path to No1, a ranking they last held in 2011, will be long.
“People have tickets to watch a whole day’s play today, tomorrow, and the same at Edgbaston and Nottingham”.
Marsh claimed the wicket of Jos Buttler in his second over, although it was admittedly due less to his guile than it was to the Englishman’s very bad shot.
The wicketkeeper batted for just short of two-and-a-half hours, facing 107 balls with four fours for his highest score of a poor series with the bat.
He beat Mark Wood’s forward prod and overturned an initial not-out lbw decision on review.