MELBOURNE: Australia captain Michael Clarke dedicated Sunday's World Cup final triumph to Phillip Hughes, the team-mate who died after being hit on the head by a bouncer last year.
Clarke, who made 74 in the seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in what was his last one-day international, described Hughes as the squad's 16th man at the six-week tournament.
“I'm sure everybody standing on this stage will say we played this World Cup with 16 players,” said Clarke.
“This victory is dedicated to our little brother Phillip Hughes. Hughesy used to party as good as any of them so I guarantee we'll celebrate hard tonight.”
Clarke will continue to play Test cricket and vowed to keep wearing a black armband in honour of his close friend.
“The band has got PH on it. I will wear it every game I play for Australia. It's been a really tough few months.”
Australia batsman Hughes died on November 27 last year, two days after being hit on the head by a Sean Abbott bouncer in a first-class match in Sydney.
