Published: Nov 19, 2015, 12:57 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 19, 2015, 01:27 PM (IST)
Recently retired Australia captain Michael Clarke has tore into former coach John Buchanan and teammates Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds in his Ashes 2015 Diary, which was released this week. Clarke has rammed the three for criticising him during his final days, saying that Buchanan was lucky to have coached a team which even his dog Jerry could have taken to world domination. Clarke retired from international cricket at the end of the Ashes 2015, the third failed attempt as a cricketer and second as Australia’s captain to win the urn in England. Australia were trumped 2-3 by England, especially when they were expected to win in England and end misery for not having won a series in Old Blighty since 2001.
Clarke was particularly critical of Buchanan, as he said that the former Australian coach did not know the value of the coveted Baggy Green because he never got to play international cricket for Australia. Buchanan, one of the most famous and successful Australian coaches, played seven First-Class matches for Queensland. ALSO READ: John Buchanan latest to criticise Michael Clarke’s captaincy
Clarke wrote in his book according to Sydney Morning Herald, “I don’t think John knows a thing about the Baggy Green, having never worn one. He’s still living off the fact that he coached a team that anyone, even my dog Jerry, could have coached to world domination.”
The former Australian captain did not spare Hayden and Symonds — with whom he was once a good friend — for criticising his captaincy. In Clarke’s list is the Australian media as well, with the former captain claiming that everything that went wrong in his leadership tenure was only because of him. Clarke said the criticism from Hayden and Symonds was a ‘low act’, who did so to remain in the media limelight.
On Symonds, Clarke highlighted his alcohol issues and wrote, “Andrew Symonds went on TV to criticise my leadership. I’m sorry, but he is not a person to judge anyone on leadership. This is a guy who turned up drunk to play for his country. It’s pretty rich for him to be throwing rocks.” ALSO READ: Michael Clarke’s captaincy not special, opines Andrew Symonds
Clarke claimed that he remained hungry as always to play cricket for Australia, and the Baggy Green cap that he had threatened to hand back to Ricky Ponting — as claimed by Hayden — was misunderstood by the former opening batsman. “I think I’ve shown over the past 12 years how much I’ve valued representing my country and how much my 389 baggy green means to me. If Ricky had asked me to jump off the Harbour Bridge, I would have jumped. I loved playing for Australia that much.” ALSO READ: Michael Clarke once threatened to return baggy green, reveals Matthew Hayden
The former cricketer went on to criticise the media for being extremely critical. “Anyone hearing this commentary — and I’ve had to wear this kind of talk for a very long time — would think I’ve been the only problem with Australian cricket for the past 13 years. That’s a tough rap for someone who has led this team to a World Cup victory at home, won a Test series against the best team in the world, South Africa, in South Africa won an Ashes 5-0, and in Tests has taken Australia from fifth to number one in the world,” Clarke wrote.
He continued, “Any time we’ve lost, it’s apparently been because of me – my personal life, my attitude, the way I’ve captained. Apparently I’ve been holding us back all along, and now that I’m leaving everyone will get along famously and the Australian team will never lose another game.”
Michael Clarke once threatened to return baggy green, reveals Matthew Hayden
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