Sports

‘Headline-chasing coward’: Michael Clarke hits back at ‘Gerald Wheatley’

Ex-Australian Test skipper Michael Clarke has rejected criticism of his leadership while finding a supporter in former teammate Matthew Hayden.

Clarke unleashed a social media rant on Wednesday night, labelling sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley, whom he mis-called Gerald Wheatley, a "headline-chasing coward" for insinuating he had a hand in the cultural failings that led to the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town.

"Perhaps if he was talented enough or courageous enough to make it onto a cricket pitch he would have a better perspective than from behind a microphone," he wrote.

Whateley claimed the Australian cricket team's cultural issues could be traced to Clarke's appointment as captain in his show on SEN Radio on Wednesday, incensing Clarke, who hit out with a statement on Twitter and on Macquarie Sport Radio this morning.

External Link: Michael Clarke tweet: GerardWhately 1116sen

Clarke was incensed by Whateley's piece and took to the airwaves himself to hit back.

"I made my feelings very clear of what I thought of Gerard Whateley's comments," Clarke told Macquarie Sport Radio this morning.

"I've been able to cop my fair share of criticism, whether it's been unfair or not, [but] when somebody questions or insults my credibility. That's not for sale, that's not on.

"I think what Gerard has said is completely out of line. Trying to blame me for cheating in South Africa is a disgrace.

"You can blame culture, you can blame chairman of the board, you can blame the CEO, at the end of the day, three people made a decision that they have to live with for the rest of their life."

Clarke suggested Australian cricket team should prioritise playing "tough" cricket over being liked.

"Ideally you would love to be respected and liked, but if you can only be one then I know which I'd choose," Clarke said in his radio interview.

In the open letter, Clarke listed several "facts" pointing to his stellar resume as skipper, all while playing "by the rules", although caveated one of those "facts" in relation to his sledging of James Anderson in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in 2013.

Michael Clarke leads team off field at Trent Bridge

Clarke also said many, "respected journalists and seniors within the Australian cricket team" had reached out in support of his view on the national set-up's ethos.

Former opener Matthew Hayden was one ex-teammate to publicly back him despite Clarke's long-time rival, Simon Katich, arguing he'd missed the point.

The imposing Queenslander echoed Clarke's words, saying the team could lose its competitive edge if it stopped playing "hard and fair" cricket.

"You play the game in a spirit that's a competitive spirit and you don't play because you want to have a masters in being a good bloke," Hayden told Fairfax Media.

Hayden said Australia's cricketers should not be worried about their "brand", thoughts echoed by Clarke.

"Playing the right style, brand of Australian cricket has nothing to do with breaking laws, breaking rules and sledging someone at all," he said.

Meanwhile, incumbent Test captain Tim Paine told ESPNcricinfo Clarke was wrong and that his side would still play "hard" cricket this summer.

"No-one has spoken about being liked, certainly by the opposition," Paine said.

"We've spoken about wanting to get the Australian public's trust and make sure that clearly you want the Australian public and cricket fans to like or love the Australian Test team."

"We're still going to play hard Australian cricket, as Michael put it, that's not going to change."

AAP/ABC

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Sports

‘Headline-chasing coward’: Michael Clarke hits back at ‘Gerald Wheatley’

Ex-Australian Test skipper Michael Clarke has rejected criticism of his leadership while finding a supporter in former teammate Matthew Hayden.

Clarke unleashed a social media rant on Wednesday night, labelling sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley, whom he mis-called Gerald Wheatley, a "headline-chasing coward" for insinuating he had a hand in the cultural failings that led to the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town.

"Perhaps if he was talented enough or courageous enough to make it onto a cricket pitch he would have a better perspective than from behind a microphone," he wrote.

Whateley claimed the Australian cricket team's cultural issues could be traced to Clarke's appointment as captain in his show on SEN Radio on Wednesday, incensing Clarke, who hit out with a statement on Twitter and on Macquarie Sport Radio this morning.

External Link: Michael Clarke tweet: GerardWhately 1116sen

Clarke was incensed by Whateley's piece and took to the airwaves himself to hit back.

"I made my feelings very clear of what I thought of Gerard Whateley's comments," Clarke told Macquarie Sport Radio this morning.

"I've been able to cop my fair share of criticism, whether it's been unfair or not, [but] when somebody questions or insults my credibility. That's not for sale, that's not on.

"I think what Gerard has said is completely out of line. Trying to blame me for cheating in South Africa is a disgrace.

"You can blame culture, you can blame chairman of the board, you can blame the CEO, at the end of the day, three people made a decision that they have to live with for the rest of their life."

Clarke suggested Australian cricket team should prioritise playing "tough" cricket over being liked.

"Ideally you would love to be respected and liked, but if you can only be one then I know which I'd choose," Clarke said in his radio interview.

In the open letter, Clarke listed several "facts" pointing to his stellar resume as skipper, all while playing "by the rules", although caveated one of those "facts" in relation to his sledging of James Anderson in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in 2013.

Michael Clarke leads team off field at Trent Bridge

Clarke also said many, "respected journalists and seniors within the Australian cricket team" had reached out in support of his view on the national set-up's ethos.

Former opener Matthew Hayden was one ex-teammate to publicly back him despite Clarke's long-time rival, Simon Katich, arguing he'd missed the point.

The imposing Queenslander echoed Clarke's words, saying the team could lose its competitive edge if it stopped playing "hard and fair" cricket.

"You play the game in a spirit that's a competitive spirit and you don't play because you want to have a masters in being a good bloke," Hayden told Fairfax Media.

Hayden said Australia's cricketers should not be worried about their "brand", thoughts echoed by Clarke.

"Playing the right style, brand of Australian cricket has nothing to do with breaking laws, breaking rules and sledging someone at all," he said.

Meanwhile, incumbent Test captain Tim Paine told ESPNcricinfo Clarke was wrong and that his side would still play "hard" cricket this summer.

"No-one has spoken about being liked, certainly by the opposition," Paine said.

"We've spoken about wanting to get the Australian public's trust and make sure that clearly you want the Australian public and cricket fans to like or love the Australian Test team."

"We're still going to play hard Australian cricket, as Michael put it, that's not going to change."

AAP/ABC

Original Article

[contf]
[contfnew]

ABC .net

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[contfnewc]

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