Clarke responds to Buchanan and Symonds in Ashes 2015 diary

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-19/michael-clarke-hits-out-at-critics-ashes-diary-2015/6956342

Michael Clarke has broken his silence on the criticism he copped after announcing his retirement during the recent Ashes series.

Both Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden publicly questioned Clarke's leadership in August and the former Australian cricket captain has used his Ashes Diary 2015 to hit back.

"Andrew Symonds went on TV to criticise my leadership. I'm sorry but he is not a person to judge anyone on leadership," Clarke wrote of his former team-mate.

"This is a guy who turned up drunk to play for his country. It's pretty rich for him to be throwing rocks."

The pair were close friends at the beginning of the former Australian captain's career, however, as Symonds behaviour went south and Clarke entered the leadership ranks, they quickly fell out.

Symonds eventually had his contract cancelled in 2009 for breaking a drinking ban while in England.

Clarke also hit back at Hayden's assertions he refused to field at bat-pad early in his career.

Hayden claimed he heard Clarke tell Ricky Ponting he would "hand back (his) Baggy Green" if he was forced to put on the helmet and field in close.

However, Clarke says his record speaks for itself.

"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," Clarke wrote.

"If Ricky (Ponting) had asked me to jump off the Harbour Bridge, I would have jumped. I loved playing for Australia that much."

But the 34-year-old saved his biggest sledge for former Australian coach John Buchanan.

"I don't think John knows a thing about the Baggy Green, having never worn one," Clarke said.

"He's still living off the fact that he coached a team that anyone, even my dog Jerry, could have coached to world domination."

So he doesn't actually refute Hayden's accusation, but does a bit of tap dancing.

taipan wrote:So he doesn't actually refute Hayden's accusation, but does a bit of tap dancing.

Oui, he may well have said that but uses his record as his alibi to be creative with the truth.

Could have put this in the toxic piece of shit thread

Heh This is good times. May just save my failing Jingle Bails campaign.

Damnit - I declared too early.

"If Ricky (Ponting) had asked me to jump off the Harbour Bridge, I would have jumped.

there were times i wish ricky had

taipan wrote:So he doesn't actually refute Hayden's accusation, but does a bit of tap dancing.

That was my first thought. Nice to see someone familiar with the term tap dancing.

Might have had a point about Buck though.

Still toxic.

And now he's named his new daughter after Brett Lee.

JGK wrote:And now he's named his new daughter after Brett Lee.

Bung?

taipan wrote:

JGK wrote:And now he's named his new daughter after Brett Lee.

Bung?

Close...

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/kelsey-lee-michael-clarke-reveals-baby-daughters-name-20151119-gl3mfx.html

Symonds is a piss-tank, Buchanan's a prat, Hayden is prone to bouts of severe self-righteousness and according to 92% of MSN poll respondents Clarke's most annoying habit is breathing. Still don't think I've found the news in this story....

'Kelsey Lee' ... ah, bless, bogan Clarke and his bogette Kyly have contributed another bogan name to the lexicon of the bogeoisie.