Cricket World Cup: 'Dedicated to our little brother'

Michael Clarke dedicated Australia's World Cup win to Phillip Hughes. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Australia captain Michael Clarke bowed out of one-day cricket with the ultimate prize, but saved a thought to a "teammate" who couldn't be with them.

"We played this World Cup with 16 players," an emotional Clarke said. "This is dedicated to our little brother and teammate Phillip Hughes."

Hughes, 25, died earlier this summer after being struck on the head by a bouncer. Clarke became the emotional touchstone for Australian cricket in the days and weeks following the tragedy, speaking at Hughes' funeral and articulating the grief of his colleagues.

Clarke was brilliant in his final ODI, marshalling his troops expertly in the field and scoring 74 off 72, losing his wicket with the finish line in sight.

"It's been an honour and a privilege representing my country in test, one-day and Twenty20 cricket," he said. "To win a World Cup in your own backyard is special."

Clarke paid tribute to Brendon McCullum and New Zealand, saying they were a hard team to beat, although on the night at least, that wasn't strictly true.

The awards kept coming for Australia, too, with left-arm pacemen Mitchell Starc pipping Brendon McCullum at the final hurdle for player of the tournament.

Starc's 22 wickets came at an astonishing average of 10.18, a remarkable achievement given that this will always be remembered as a batting tournament.

He was instrumental in winning the final, too, taking McCullum's wicket in a hostile, brilliant first over.

"There was a lot of luck involved," Starc said of taking the key wicket. "It was a little plan Craig [McDermott, bowling coach] cooked up a few days ago.

"To see it executed brilliantly was something, because Brendon has done a fantastic job all tournament."