Published: Oct 12, 2012, 04:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 12, 2012, 04:37 PM (IST)
James Anderson narrates how he cuffed arrogant Michael Clarke © Getty Images
Sydney: Oct 12, 2012
England pacer James Anderson revealed in his autobiography ‘Jimmy My Story’ of how egged on by Australian batsman Damien Martyn he attacked Michael Clarke with a batsman’s pad in the dressing room after the Adelaide Ashes Test match in the 2006-07 series.
Terming Clarke’s behavior as arrogant, Anderson writes: “I said as much to Damien Martyn, who I was chatting to at the time, and, looking down at my feet, added: ‘See this pad here, I really want to wrap it around his head’.
“‘Do it,’ Martyn replied, completely straight-faced.
“Now while Martyn was notorious for being someone who did not mix particularly well with his own teammates, and was not close to anyone, preferring to be something of a lone wolf, his bullish attitude nevertheless took me aback.
“I looked at him again as if to ask: ‘Are you sure?’
“‘Do it!’ he repeated.
“As I’d had a couple of beers, I didn’t need a second invitation, so I picked this pad up and cuffed Clarke with it, making the biggest thud imaginable in the process, and causing everyone in the room to stop nattering. For a split second, there was complete silence.
“‘What the f— ya doing?’ he snarled.”
The paceman adds: “The Australians displayed great levels of humility throughout that Test series, except, that is, for Michael Clarke.
“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.”
According to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald, Anderson has further written how Martyn never got along well with his teammates and was a ‘lone wolf’in the team. He further writes of how on the same day after the incident, Martyn and Matthew Hayden got into a fight,
Two days later after the incident Martyn went on to announce his retirement from international cricket.
