"Title in the pursuit of a coward": Clarke v Whateley becomes personal

The former Australian cricket captain, Michael Clarke, said on Wednesday that he intended to comment on broadcaster Gerard Whateley on social media and that he was eager to call it a "cowardly to looking for titles "someday.

In early Wednesday, on SEN (Sports Entertainment Network radio station), he called Clarke "the last of the great climate deniers" by claiming that he claimed that Australia would not win matches without a competitive approach and that the team should give priority to respected on being loved.

Whateley also felt that the seeds of Australia's cultural crisis, eight months after the beginning of the debate, were sown during Clarke's reign as captain.

In response, Clarke criticized Whateley on Twitter, describing him as "delusional" and "misinformed", and he stood by every word on Thursday morning, calling Whateley's attack his integrity and credibility "ashamed." absolute. "

READ MORE: * Simon Katich responds to criticism of the new Australian cricket ethos by Michael Clarke * Former skipper Michael Clarke denounces Australian gentleman's attitude * Skipper Steve Smith optimistic while the dispute over payment between Cricket Australia continues

"One of the things I've always said throughout my career is that I've been able to deal with my fair share of criticism, whether it's fair or unfair, but when someone A questioning or insulting my integrity and credibility – it's not for sale, it's not about, "said Thursday Clarke at Macquarie Sports Radio.

"I think these days, being a father, I imagine that it will happen a day when I will no longer be on this planet, but what I will do is that my daughter know exactly what I represent.

"She will know that much of my father work is to teach her resilience, but I will make her understand that I do not think it is right or proper to insult the person." integrity or credibility of someone and be proud of what you stand for and what you believe in.

"I think what Gerard said is completely out of place, trying to blame me for cheating in South Africa is an absolute shame."

Clarke does not apologize to Whateley, claiming that he "does not care" about him, and that he does not see the fire storm surrounding their war of words ending in so early.

"I'll see him one day … and I'll say it in the face," Clarke said.

"I think that will unfortunately continue because people will misinterpret what I said or they will not listen to my 17-minute interview a few days ago.

"I've read what 'Painey's' [Tim Paine] said and I totally agree with what he's trying to do and I support him 100% with what he's trying to do as captain of Australia.

"That's why I say that if you listen to what I said in my interview, not once did I say that cheating was good, falsifying the ball, that's fine, doing tobogganing or saying things personally is good.

"I never have and I will never say that these kinds of things are completely acceptable. Playing the right style of the Australian cricket brand has nothing to do with breaking the rules, breaking the laws and hanging out. someone in luge. "

Clarke said playing "hard cricket" was an Australian way.

"It means playing cricket with a good attitude, good intention, good aggressive body language, but always following the rules," he said.

"I think it's not difficult, aggressive, competitive, never takes a step back [attitude] that does not mean that cheating is good, it does not mean that sandpaper on a cricket ground is fine. "

Clarke said the only people responsible for the scandal in Cape Town were Steve Smith, Dave Warner and Cam Bancroft, who are still serving suspensions.

"You can blame the culture, you can blame what you want, you can blame the chairman of the board, the CEO, the former captains, the former coaches, the old players [but] At the end of the day, three people made the decision to live with the rest of their lives, "he said.

Clarke insisted that if the national team played the game correctly, the Australian public would respect and appreciate them.

Whateley also made his remarks about Clarke on the radio Thursday morning.

"My criticism of Michael Clarke was severe and his response was severe enough," Whateley told SEN.

"It's a certain belief that his misunderstanding of what has happened in Australian cricket over the past nine months and his attachment to an old idea that turned out to be the destruction of the team and that goes back to his time as a captain.

"I never said that he was responsible for what had happened in South Africa, but when Australia became a revolted cricket team, it dates back to the 39, when he held the post of captain.

"Australia's quest is to restore respect, but without being insulted.It is the dissent that began under Clarke.

"Mitch Johnson wrote about the toxic culture that developed under Clarke's leadership and collapsed in the direction of a team that left some not even wanting to play."

The former test skipper launched an epic speech on Instagram on Wednesday, calling Whateley a "cowardly chase" for his claim, Clarke had played a key role in preparing for the balloon falsification scandal. Cap.

"Maybe if he was talented enough or brave enough to pass on a cricket ground, he would have a better perspective than behind a microphone," Clarke wrote after listing several "facts" in the open letter.

Clarke added in his letter: "If you think the current # 1 team in the world of cricket considers that it is more important to be loved than to be respected and to play to win in the rules of our game. [sic] you are as delusional as ill informed.

The former original player, Matthew Hayden, was a former teammate who supported him publicly despite New South Welshman's longtime rival, Simon Katich, claiming he missed the point.

The mighty Queenslander picked up Clarke's words, saying the team could lose its competitive advantage if it stopped playing "hard and fair" cricket.

"You play in a competitive spirit and you do not play because you want to be a good guy," Hayden told Fairfax Media.

Hayden said that Australian cricketers should not worry about their "mark".

Whateley said Wednesday in SEN that Clarke "turned out to be the last of the big climate deniers" after Clarke's interview on Macquarie radio in which he said "we will win nothing" by worrying about the how others see the Australian team.

"When the cultural journal identified the phenomenon of the golden bubble where elite cricketers existed in a parallel universe endowed with wealth and privileges ignoring outside influence and perception, it should have published a photo of the former captain, "Whateley said.

"Clarke's interpretation of the difficult situation in which the Australian men's test team is located is breathtaking.

"The fact that he continues to rely on the line – the fiction that his teams and subsequent teams had the habit of apologizing for all kinds of rude behaviors – could be the most great absurdity of the last nine months.

"Australia did not know what or where the line was – that's how it ended up with sandpaper on the ground.

"Australia's Tim Paine is not trying to be the most appreciated team of world cricket.

"It's very precisely to try to no longer be the most despised team of world cricket, a scourge that is part of Clarke's legacy."

Sydney Morning Herald with AAP