Mixed emotions in cricket

There were mixed emotions amid Australian cricket fans across the weekend, with smiles all round due to Australia’s win against New Zealand in the World Cup (our fifth win so far) juxtaposed with the official handing over of the baton of One Day International captaincy from Michael Clarke to fledgling star Steven Smith.

Seeing one generation handing the ODI leadership duties over to the next was touching in several ways, least of all for the fact it showed an elderly player who had battled his health all summer to get in handing the reigns over to the younger who has been virtually impossible to get out.

Cricketing peers and veterans alike appear to be rooting for Smith as the new ODI leader, including former Australian captain Ricky Ponting who said there was “no doubt at all” Smith should take over from Clarke as the team’s ODI leader.

Clarke officially retired from one-day cricket after leading Australia to victory in the World Cup final against New Zealand in Melbourne.

Antonino Tati