Tomorrow's ICC Cricket World Cup Final will be Michael Clarke's 245th and last appearance in One-Day International cricket for Australia.

The 33-year-old used his pre-match press conference to break news of his retirement from the white ball format, servicing his successor with a full four year cycle in which to build for the 2019 tournament in England.

Clarke, whose 7907 career runs at an average of 44.42  put him behind only Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh in the all time list of Australian batsmen in the 50 over game, is hoping this decision will prolong his Test career, where he remains captain of his country heading into an English Investec Ashes summer.

"I don't think it's reasonable to expect I'll be fit and healthy and available for the next World Cup, so I believe it's the right time," Clarke said. 

"It's obviously a priority for me to continue to be successful in the Test format. By walking away from one-day cricket it probably gives me my best opportunity. 

"I don't feel bad about saying I feel that Test cricket is the toughest part of our game. 

"I love that challenge. I see it as the pinnacle and I feel like I've still got a lot to offer the Australian Test team as captain."

Clarke's history with the World Cup goes back 12 years to 2003 when, despite scoring 39 not out on debut against England, a 21-year-old Clarke was left out of his nation's squad for the tournament in South Africa.

A middle-order of Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann and Michael Bevan vindicated the selectors' decison by guiding the holders to a second successive triumph in the tournament, this time without losing a game.

And after winning back his place during the subsequent tour of the West Indies, Clarke had 210 ODI runs to his name before losing his wicket for the first time having followed the previous knock against England with unbeaten scores of 77 and 55 in the Caribbean. He added a further 39 before finally being dismissed by Mervyn Dillon in his fourth innings.

A year later Clarke, during a temporary foray at the very top of the order, scored his maiden ODI century in Zimbabwe and - by the time of the World Cup in 2007 - he was a mainstay of the Australia side; scoring 60 not out in the semi-final against South Africa, one of four half-centuries in the tournament servicing an average of over 87.

The Aussies emerged with the trophy again, but there was to be no repeat in 2011 as Australia, despite Clarke averaging upwards of 77, were eliminated by co-hosts and eventual winners India at the quarter-final stage.

It was in the aftermath of that defeat that Clarke was appointed captain of Australia and - having overseen the emergence of a side his predecessor Ricky Ponting recently described as without weakness - tomorrow's final at the MCG is the moment of reckoning for the man affectionately nicknamed "Pup" and his legacy as one-day skipper.

"I think it's the right time for me and the Australian cricket team," Clarke said. 

"I was very fortunate four years ago to get the opportunity for me to captain this one-day team.

"That was very good preparation for me leading up to this World Cup and I think the next Australian captain deserves the same opportunity. 

"I don't think it would be fair for me to go into who is going to be the next captain, it's not my place. It's up to the selectors."

 

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to watch England seek redemption against the Kiwis and secure your seat now.