Ashes 2013 - Clarke warns umpire to keep his hands off

Michael Clarke and Aleem Dar

Australian Captain Michael Clarke warned umpire Aleem Dar of getting physical in a fiery mid-pitch confrontation over bad light, as the Ashes finished in high-drama at The Oval on Sunday.

The ICC is likely to examine the ugly incident and also post-match comments from Clarke, when he revealed the reading on the light meter on Sunday was vastly inconsistent with earlier in the series.

Bad light also cost Australia valuable time in the third Test at Old Trafford.

When Mitchell Starc ran out Ian Bell on the last ball of that 40th over, Clarke approached Aleem Dar to make his point and reacted angrily to the umpire prodding him away with his left hand which was holding the meter.

As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, Clarke said: “I remember Aleem touching me and I asked him politely to not touch me because if I touched him I’d be suspended for three matches.

“That’s all I can remember, coincidentally.

“From my point of view I have no issue. I just know a player is not allowed to touch an umpire.”

At the podium, at presentation ceremony, Clarke said: “I think the concern from our players was the reading was taken so late.

“I think the reading in Manchester was 8.1 and then today it was 5.7 but at the end of the day what do you do? You do your best and try and set up a game and unfortunately home fans (react angrily).”

At the post-match press conference, he added: “I’m not going to get into the numbers. I think I did up there (on stage). I will probably get in trouble for it.”