Stuart Clark has ashed out at former players for 'unfairly' criticising the team's behaviour during the recent Sydney Test against India.
MELBOURNE: Australian pacer Stuart Clark has ashed out at former players for 'unfairly' criticising the team's behaviour during the recent Sydney Test against India, saying their comments have tarnished the world champions' reputation.
Clark said former cricketers, a lot of whom are working as commentators, over-analysed certain sensitive topics during the controversy-hit match, which turned public opinion against the home team.
"I think some commentators need to understand the influence they have on the viewing public," Clark was quoted as saying in 'The Age'.
"Sometimes, the things they say can be extremely harmful to players' reputations, even if there is no malice intended. I would like to see respect restored to the game, because that's what it deserves," he added.
Disappointed with Anil Kumble's remark that only the visitors played in the right spirit in Sydney, Clark said he was hoping to see only cricket making headlines from now on.
"I think a lot of what has been said in the aftermath of that game has been over the top. It's a shame, because it has taken a lot of the focus away from what was a really good game of cricket," he said.
"The game should be at the forefront, not just the controversy. I hope that for the rest of the series the focus is on the spectacle of the game and the people, and not of the comments of some commentators and the media," he added.
Clark said sparks are bound to fly in the heat of the moment in Test cricket and said 'friendly banter' should be there to spice up the proceedings a bit.
"It seems like it is getting to the point where games will be played in silence, with no one speaking to each other. As long as no one crosses the line, a bit of chat out there is fine," he said.
"Most of the talk in the Sydney Test was all pretty light-hearted, anyway, and that has been one of the reasons we have all been taken by a bit of surprise with what's gone on after," he added.
The lanky pacer said his personal equation with the Indian players remained friendly.
"Hopefully, we can put all this behind us. I don't have an issue with any of the Indian players," he said.
Meanwhile, former captain Ian Chappell said Australian players should speak directly to commentators if they had any issues with them instead of talking through media.
"I would have thought that if they had a problem, they would come and speak to us. I am around the team enough, and am always available to talk."
"This hasn't been brought to my attention. If they were to say something about it to my face, I would be happy to sit down and sort it out. When I was playing, if you had a problem with a journo you would approach them and sort it out," he said.
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