Michael Clarke targets top Test ranking for Australia after ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 win

Australia are currently second in the ICC's Test rankings, six ratings points behind South Africa.

Updated: March 31, 2015 11:53 AM IST

By AFP

Michael Clarke targets top Test ranking for Australia after ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 win

Michael-Clarke-of-Australia-leads-out-his-team

Melbourne, Mar 31 Australia captain Michael Clarke said his next target after winning the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in his last one-day international (ODI) was to take his team back to the top of the Test rankings. Clarke hit 74 as Australia defeated New Zealand by seven wickets in a one-sided final in front of a record crowd of 93,013 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Australia bowled out the Black Caps for 183 and then galloped to victory in the 34th over to win one-day cricket’s showpiece event for the fifth time, with this World Cup triumph their first on home soil. The 33-year-old Clarke, who announced his retirement from the one-day international format on the eve of the final, added 112 runs for the third wicket with his likely successor Steve Smith, who made an unbeaten 56 and struck the winning boundary.

Australia are currently second in the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings, six ratings points behind South Africa. But leaving the 50-over format will give Clarke — whose career has been blighted by back and hamstring problems — an opportunity to concentrate on the five-day game. “My next task is to try and get Australia back to the number one position in Tests,” he told reporters after Sunday’s match.

“We have a busy period ahead with tours of the West Indies and then on to England for the Ashes. “I hope my retirement from one-day cricket will prolong my Test career. I am only 33 and hope I have a few more years left in the game.” Clarke said he had not made up his mind about playing in various Twenty20 leagues around the world due to his Test commitments. “I have not thought about playing in the T20 leagues,” he said. “I just wanted to concentrate on the World Cup. Now that it is over, I will get time to think over it. “But I am very excited about Test cricket. I don’t want to rush to any decisions about other things.”

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