Michael Clarke launches attack on radio broadcaster Gerard Whateley

Michael Clarke has launched an extraordinary Instagram attack on Gerard Whateley, calling the radio broadcaster a “headline chasing coward”.

Michael Clarke at the launch of this summers Cricket Ashes, held at the Hotel Centennial in Woollahra. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Michael Clarke has launched an extraordinary Instagram attack on radio broadcaster Gerard Whateley, calling him a “headline chasing coward” for a piece he wrote for the SEN website.

Clarke had defended his former teammate David Warner on Monday, saying those who wanted to temper his aggressive streak didn’t understand what motivated the opening batsman who is serving a 12-month ban for his part in the Australian ball-tampering scandal.

The former Test captain said he was not happy with the direction of the Australian team in the wake of the cultural review into cricket, saying “Australian cricket, I think, needs to stop worrying about being respected,” Clarke told Macquarie Sports Radio on Monday.

“If you try and walk away from it, we might be the most liked team in the world, (but) we’re not going to win s..t. We won’t win a game.”

In response, Whateley wrote: “In cricketing terms, Michael Clarke is proving himself the last of the great climate deniers.”

“Clarke’s interpretation of the predicament the Australian men’s Test team finds itself in is breathtaking,” Whateley wrote.

Gerard Whateley. Picture: Alan Barber

“When the cultural review identified the phenomenon of the gilded bubble where elite cricketers existed in a parallel universe blessed with wealth and privilege oblivious to outside perception and influence, it should’ve posted a photo of the former captain.

“Australia didn’t know what or where the line was — that’s how it ended up with sandpaper on the field.”

Clarke, the former Test captain, replied via his Instagram account.

“Fact: Under my leadership of the Test team, Australia was ranked No 5 in the world and 18 months later we were No 1, yet you made no criticism of me or our style of play then,” Clarke wrote.

“Fact: In the process of getting to number 1, I played to win, but played by the rules of the game and to a similar level of aggression to the other international teams I played against.

“Fact: My conduct as an honest and “by the rules” Captain has never been questioned.

“Fact: For Gerard Wheatley (sic) — to insinuate that I am responsible for the ball tampering issue makes him nothing more than a headline chasing coward. Perhaps if he was talented enough or courageous enough to make it onto a cricket pitch he would have a better perspective than from behind a microphone.”

Clarke’s views on the current team had earlier been criticised by long-time rival Simon Katich who said his former teammate has not understood what is needed when it comes to winning back respect. “Once again we find someone (Clarke) missing the point,” Katich told SEN.

“We were caught for blatantly cheating and we have to rectify that as quickly as possible and to earn back the respect of the cricketing public in Australia and worldwide. Our behaviour is a big part of that.

Simon Katich. Picture: Aaron Francis

“We’ve been a disliked team for a number of years through that on-field behaviour and it obviously came to a head in Cape Town.

“It’s a tough battle for this team taking on the burden of what’s come before them. ”

Katich memorably had his hands around Clarke’s throat at the SCG in 2009 amid a dressing-room spat but his comments are consistent with his view of cricket’s cultural problems.

The former Test opener, floated as a contender to sit on CA’s board or be Pat Howard’s successor, notably argued softening Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft’s bans would have been a bad idea and reflective of a “win-at- all-costs mentality.”

Additional reporting: AAP