Clarke denies instructing Warner to sledge
Australian Captain, Michael Clarke, denied, ever instructing team-mate David Warner, to sledge opposition, and stated that Coach Darren Lehmann never did so either.
Clarke responded to Warner’s words in an interview with ESPNcricinfo, during the recent tour of Australia to the Carribean, where Warner indicated that he wasn’t in the middle of the on-field banter during the Tests. There is a general perception that Australia’s on-field success and sledging go hand-in-hand.
Warner had said that "in the past I've been someone who's been told to go out there and do this and do that", but Clarke clarified that he never instructed players to sledge. Alternatively, he said he advised a team environment where players were free to choose their own path, whether they choose to be loud or quite.
"That was the last article I've read actually. I probably won't read too much while I'm in the UK. It was quite an interesting read to be honest," Clarke said at the official opening press conference of Australia's Ashes tour. "I didn't hear what Davey said, but as captain of Davey I can guarantee I have certainly never asked him to go and sledge somebody, and I think I can speak for the coach as well, that he certainly has never done that.
"The environment I try to create around this group is I want players to try to play the way they feel they play their best cricket. So for me, being sledged or sledging somebody else has never really impacted me. It's never really affected me if I've copped it and it's never really helped me if I've opened my big mouth. If that's how I play my best cricket that's what I want to do, if someone like Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden or Steve Waugh feel they get benefit out of talking to a batter when they're fielding, or Warney when he's bowling, that's for them as well."
Clarke doesn’t mind Warner changing his approach as long as his form remains the same like how its been over the last 12 months.
"Davey's his own man, he's a 28-year-old grown man, he'll make his own choices - I want to see him perform as good as he possibly can," Clarke said. "He's a big part of this team, he's in tremendous form, he's batted beautifully in all formats of the game over the last 12 months, and we need him to be successful here. If he feels like he has said a lot through his career and he wants to say less, if that helps his game, I'm all for it."
Clarke maintained that Australia will continue to play hard cricket, but at the same time he wants to ensure that his teammates do not cross the line.
"I think that's how we play our best," he said. "I think it's a big part of the Australian way, but I think you also need to keep in mind there's a line and not overstep that. As captain I'll make sure I lead the way on that front and I'm sure the boys will certainly follow. I probably say this every series but we respect there's a line you can't cross. Both teams might head-butt that line, but I'm confident we won't overstep the mark."
Australia were also boosted by the sight of watching Chris Rogers spend some time in the training session. He made a fluent 70.
"I think mentally as much as anything, for him to have the confidence to walk back out on that field and play with freedom," Clarke said of Rogers. "I watched him bat today, he looked really good. Chris is a really experienced player, he's had a lot of success in the UK and he's going to play a big part throughout this series."