Michael Clarke has apologised to skipper Anil Kumble for not leaving the crease after being caught at slip in the second Test in Sydney, the Australian media has reported.
PERTH: In a move that could go a long way in healing the rift between the Australian and Indian cricket teams, Michael Clarke has apologised to skipper Anil Kumble for not leaving the crease after being caught at slip in the second Test in Sydney, the Australian media has reported.
Clarke telephoned Kumble to say he was sorry and deeply regretted not walking after clearly slicing a ball to first slip in Australia's second innings.
But Clarke stuck to his guns on another controversial issue when he insisted he was '100 percent certain' he had caught Sourav Ganguly on the final day at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Kumble accused Clarke of 'double standards' in his Herald Sun column last week, and attacked Clarke's integrity.
Clarke's peacemaking phone call helped ease tensions between the two teams.
"I told him, with my dismissal it was more shock and disappointment, to be honest, more than anything else," Clarke said on Sunday.
"When I went to cut the ball and it came off my glove and went to slip, it was more just the disappointment of again failing and getting my first first-baller in Test cricket. "
"I spoke to Anil and he was actually very supportive and said, 'Mate, I understand'.
"In my heart and in hindsight I wish I had just walked straight off the field. If it happens again, I'm certain I would react differently."
Kumble last week blamed Clarke for much of the bad blood between the sides and claimed he could no longer trust the Australians' honesty with catches.
Despite apologising for not leaving the crease when he was dismissed, Clarke said he would not follow Adam Gilchrist's lead of being a confirmed 'walker'.
"I'm not saying I'm a walker," Clarke said. "I can't sit here and say when I get caught behind I walk.
"You get the good and the bad."
India, who trail the four-Test series 0-2, play the next Test here from Wednesday.
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