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PHILLIP Hughes would have loved that as much as his "brother" and buddy Michael Clarke did.
The popular batsman's tragic death in November rocked Australian cricket to its heart and soul and could easily have derailed the huge season ahead — but on Sunday, his closest mates completed probably the best campaign of their own lives, past or future.
It goes without saying they dedicated the World Cup triumph — a thumping seven-wicket win against an overwhelmed and possibly overawed New Zealand in front of the biggest cricket crowd in history — to Hughes, who might have been a part of it if fate had not decreed otherwise.
AUSTRALIA STORMS TO WORLD CUP GLORY
'TONIGHT IS FOR OUR LITTLE BROTHER PHILLIP'
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"You can see it's (Clarke's black arm band) got PH on it. I wear it every game I play for Australia. For everybody in Australian cricket it's been a really though few months," said Clarke after the win.
"I'm sure I don't speak for myself, I'm sure everyone standing on this stage tonight will say we played this World Cup with 16 players and tonight is certainly dedicated to our little brother and our teammate Phillip Hughes.
"Hughesy used to party as well as any of us so we'll make sure we drink two at a time tonight, one for Hughesy and one for us."
James Faulkner with captain Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson. Source: AP
But even viewed without that poignant prism, the one-sided final was the stylish finishing touch to one of the most successful and satisfying summers since ... well, it's hard to remember a finer one.
The Australians thrashed India in the Test series 2-0 with two draws, beat South Africa 4-1 in a one-day series and saw off England and India without dropping a match in the tri-series World Cup warm-up.
In the Cup, it won every game it played — except one — by at least six wickets or 64 runs, accounting for their three finals opponents by six wickets, 95 runs and seven wickets with 17 overs remaining. That is the definition of domination.
Michael Clarke of Australia touches his black armband in a tribute to the late Phillip Hughes. Source: Getty Images
The only game they lost, against the Kiwis, was by just one wicket after a heroic fightback, and if that created some spirited trans-Tasman chat about what that did or did not prove, the argument was comprehensively resolved when it mattered most.
It was one of only two games Australia lost all summer, a feat achieved not only against a backdrop of sadness and unsettlement, but despite a substantial injury to the captain, Michael Clarke, which meant that two-stand-in captains, Steve Smith and George Bailey, had to be used.
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That turned out to be a blessing in heavy disguise because it gave the selectors the opportunity to identify Smith as the next Test captain, and almost certainly the new one-day leader as well.
Smith not only seized that opportunity with both hands but revealed himself to now be the equal of any batsman in the world, his contribution of another unbeaten half-century — and the winning runs — to last night's win just a final exclamation mark to a truly golden five months.
It was a day and night for everyone in the Australian dressing room — all 11 batted, bowled or kept wicket — but for none more than Clarke, playing his last one-dayer.
Michael Clarke congratulates Phillip Hughes on his 150 against South Africa. Source: Supplied
Armed with fast bowling at least the equal of any seen at an MCG one-dayer — the Mitchells, Starc and Johnson, were always going to be the key to victory, and were — Clarke's captaincy was faultless.
Fittingly, he then top-scored with 74, sharing the pivotal partnership of 112 with his heir apparent before chopping onto his stumps just as the winning runs were there for him to score.
The unprecedented 93,013 spectators, nearly all still in their seats to share the moment, were joined by Clarke's team-mates in giving him a standing ovation as he walked off, looking to the heavens — where, no doubt, he could sense his lost mate clapping harder than anyone.
In a summer of many emotional moments for one of the all-time great cricketers, this was the best one.
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