Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke asserted that playing tough cricket has always been a part of Australian cricket culture and walking away from it will not help the team win a game.
As per the quotes in foxsports.com.au., during an interview with Macquarie Sports Radio, Clarke said, “Play tough Australian cricket, because whether we like it or not, that is in our blood. If you try and walk away from it, yeah we might be the most liked team in the world, we’re not going to win s**t, we won’t win a game. All we can want to do is want to win.”
After the Sandpaper scandal and the subsequent fatal Longstaff review report, the focus for Australian cricket team has been shifted to approach the game with a mellowed down attitude, but Clarke reckons that the team should aim to be respected, rather than being liked.
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Clarke who led Australia for 47 Tests from 2011 to 2015, said, “Australian cricket I think need to stop worrying about being liked and start worry about being respected.”
Former Australian skipper Kim Hughes had also reckoned that Australia should continue playing cricket the Australian way and the bit of banter should take place in the game, especially against someone like Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli, who Hughes feels, can be put under pressure.
As quoted in Canberra Times. Hughes said, “You are not going to become pussycats. That’s not racially vilifying him (Kohli) at all or anything like that but just a good stare, or a couple of words, that’s part of the Australian way.”
The T20I series between India and Australia resulted in 1-1 and it will be followed by a four-match Test series starting on December 6. Before which, Team India will play a four-day practice match against Cricket Australia XI which will commence on November 28.
