Ashes 2013-14: Tensions between James Anderson and Michael Clarke rise before 1st Test

James Anderson believes Michael Clarke is possibly being a bit paranoid © Getty Images

Nov 20, 2013

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Since the Ashes 2006-07 in Australia, England pacer James Anderson and Australia’s Michael Clarke have been on a war-path with verbal abuses being thrown back and forth by both of them.

Now, as the two sides gear up for another showdown, the tensions between the two cricketers will only get worse with Anderson branding the Australian captain as ‘paranoid’.

Recently, the Aussie skipper revealed in his ‘Ashes Diary’ that Anderson ignored him all the time in England during the series earlier this year.

Clarke wrote, “I’m polite to all of the Englishmen and will say G’day to anyone. James Anderson is the one who prefers not to talk to me. I didn’t read his book, but from what I heard, he had a crack at me.”

The Mirror reported Clarke as writing, “That’s fine. He’s a fast bowler, and if I was his captain I’d want to see a bit of mongrel in him too.”

The England spearhead Anderson though, completely disagrees with it by stating, “No. I think he is possibly being a bit paranoid. I’ve nothing against him at all. To be honest I don’t remember seeing him many times outside a game situation so if he goes on how I behave in the field, he might think that, I don’t know.”

Anderson added, “I can’t speak for anyone else but I was brought up to think that actions speak louder than words. We will try to concentrate on performing well in these games and how we are going to try to beat the Australians. That’s where it matters, on the field, and that is where we will try to show people what we are about.”

Anderson had earlier said in his autobiography that after 2006-07 Ashes when both English and Australian players shared a beer, Clarke came across as arrogant. Anderson wrote, “While others chatted with opposite numbers about the game, Clarke was being a complete pain, whistling away to himself and carrying on in a most arrogant manner.”