Ex-Australia cricket captain brands Gerard Whateley a ‘headline chasing coward’ as row escalates

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Michael Clarke has stood by comments he made about Gerard Whateley
Clarke called the sports broadcaster 'delirious' and 'ill-informed' amid public row
The drama began on Wednesday when Whateley challenged Clarke's captaincy
Both Clarke and Whateley spoke about the row on radio on Thursday morning

Published: 21:29 EST, 28 November 2018 | Updated: 03:32 EST, 29 November 2018

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Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has stood by his scathing attack on sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley amid their escalating public row.

Clarke, 37, addressed the media storm on Thursday morning and maintained his comments the commentator was 'delirious' and 'ill-informed'.

'I've been able to cop a fair bit of criticism throughout my career,' Clarke told Macquarie Sports Radio on Thursday.

'But when somebody questions or insults my integrity and my credibility, that's not for sale. That's not on and I made that very clear on social media.'

Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke (right with wife Kyly Clarke) has stood by his scathing attack on sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley amid escalating public row

The drama unfolded when Whateley suggested Clarke's captaincy methods precipitated the sandpaper saga that occurred at the beginning of the year - after Clarke's reign as captain.

The Australian team faced controversy when bowler Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to tamper with the ball in the third test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town in March.

'That he (Clarke) would continue to rely on the line, the fiction his and subsequent teams continue to use to excuse all manner of boorish behaviour might be the single greatest piece of nonsense over the past nine months,' Whateley said on SEN on Wednesday.

'Australia didn't know what or where the line was - that's how it ended up with sandpaper on the field.'

'Tim Paine's Australia isn't trying to be the most liked team in world cricket, it is very specifically trying to no longer be the most despised team in world cricket.'

Clarke replied to Whateley's comments on Wednesday evening in an Instagram post he also shared to Twitter.

Clarke replied to Whateley's 'read radio piece' on Wednesday evening in an Instagram post he also shared to Twitter

The former captain said Whateley attacked his leadership and integrity and listed a number of 'facts'.

'While facts don't seem to play a role in your form of journalism, in the interest of reporting the truth, hereunder are some items about what you said today, that the public ought to be made aware of just in case you are believed,' Clarke wrote.

He then took a swipe at Whateley's career choice, claiming he was '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 wrote.

Clarke maintained his sentiments on Thursday morning on radio: 'What Gerard has said is completely out of line, trying to blame me for cheating in South Africa is an absolute disgrace.'

Clarke said he 'couldn't care less' about the sports commentator and wasn't after an apology.

'I'll see him one day and I'll say it to his face,' Clarke said.

The drama unfolded when Whateley (pictured) suggested Clarke's captaincy methods were rooted in the sandpaper saga that occurred at the beginning of the year - after Clarke's reign as captain

The former captain explained that information is easily misinterpreted as people didn't necessarily listen to his full 17-minute video from the other day.

'I read what 'Painey' (Tim Paine) has said and I agree 100 per cent with what he's trying to do and I back him 100 per cent with what he's trying to do as captain of Australia,' he said.

'That's why I say if you listen to what I said in my interview, not once did I say cheating is fine, ball-tampering is fine, sledging or saying things personally is fine.

'I've never and will never say that that stuff is completely fine. Playing the right style of Australian brand of cricket has nothing to do with breaking rules, breaking laws and sledging someone at all.'

Whateley didn't back down on Thursday morning either and referred to Clarke's comeback comments on SEN radio.

Clarke (pictured with family) said Whateley was 'nothing more than a headline chasing coward

'My criticism of Michael Clarke was harsh and his reply was suitably severe,' Whateley said.

'I never said that he was responsible for what happened in South Africa, but where Australia became a reviled cricket team, that dates back to his time as captain and it continued on from there.'

Whateley referred to pace bowler Mitch Johnson who has written about toxic culture that developed under Clarke's leadership, which eventually led to some cricketers not wanting play.

He concluded his two minute response by clapping back at Clarke's comment about courage for a sporting career.

'As for the courage to play, it was a complete lack of ability but let's call it courage. I know what I'd get from Michael Clarke,' he said.

A video of Clarke telling James Anderson to 'get ready for a broken f***ing arm' was then played by Whateley.