When I started the Baggy Green Blog in 2007, we had the Ashes urn, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, number 1 ranks in Test and ODI cricket, and of course the glorious World Cup Trophy backed by a monster team of greats. Things were good, but then a lot of dark times in Australian cricket plagued us as die-hard supporters as we lost them all. Through all the turmoil and challenges (which I documented over the years) I can now proudly write that we've won back the World Cup title and done so in Australia, for the first time, and I have been here to experience it (witnessed us beating Pakistan in the quarter-final at the Adelaide Oval), along with regaining the urn, beating South Africa in South Africa, and winning back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy!
I am so damn proud of Michael Clarke on a fantastic ODI career, our tenacious coach, Darren Lehmann, and our boys who worked so hard to ensure they'd the trophy on home soil. We are the World Champs again. Great to win it in Hughesy's memory too.
Live it and embrace it. Australia, you bloody beauty. Stats from the Facebook page below.
Until another few months this is Ian signing off again, as my Australian cricket world makes sense again.
Michael Clarke's ODI career wrap-up:
Batting: 223 innings, 7981 runs, HS 130, Avg 44.58, 8 (100s), 58 (50s), final innings 74 runs.
Bowling: 105 bowling innings, 57 wickets @ 37.64. BBI 5/35
Bowling: 105 bowling innings, 57 wickets @ 37.64. BBI 5/35
Top 3 bowlers:
1 - Mitchell Starc (Player of the tournament - incredible stats): 22 wickets @ *10.18. BBI 6/28, SR 17.4
2 - Mitchell Johnson: 15 wickets @ 21.73, SR 25.4
3 - James Faulkner (Player of the Match in the final): 10 wickets @ 19.70, SR 25.1
1 - Mitchell Starc (Player of the tournament - incredible stats): 22 wickets @ *10.18. BBI 6/28, SR 17.4
2 - Mitchell Johnson: 15 wickets @ 21.73, SR 25.4
3 - James Faulkner (Player of the Match in the final): 10 wickets @ 19.70, SR 25.1
*Starc's career average is now 18.33 with 83 wickets. Tight!
Top 3 batsmen:
1 - Steven Smith: 402 runs @ 67.00, HS 105, SR 91.57
2 - David Warner: 345 runs @ 49.28, HS 178, SR 120.20
3 - Glenn Maxwell: 324 runs @ 64.80, HS 102, SR 182.02 (Big Show!)
1 - Steven Smith: 402 runs @ 67.00, HS 105, SR 91.57
2 - David Warner: 345 runs @ 49.28, HS 178, SR 120.20
3 - Glenn Maxwell: 324 runs @ 64.80, HS 102, SR 182.02 (Big Show!)
Most tournament catches: Brad Haddin with 16 topped the list.
Final scorecard: Australia win by 7 wickets at the MCG vs New Zealand
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click on the 'Comments' tag at the end of the article.
@BaggyGreenBlog
@Ianbaggygreen
@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo
