Aussie cricket legend Michael Clarke has revealed he solely ever went to the distinguished Allan Border Medal as a result of it was ‘obligatory’ for gamers to attend.
The 41-year-old received the medal a record-equalling 4 occasions, nevertheless it seems he by no means loved being at one of many sport’s largest nights, primarily as a result of he ‘could not unwind and drink’.
A former skipper and veteran of 115 Assessments and 245 ODI matches, Clarke has usually courted the highlight on and off the sector.
‘Pup’ has graced the pink carpet on the Allan Border Medal with a glamorous date – from Erina Lea-Connelly to Lara Bingle to ex-wife Kyly – on his arm since 2005, so it comes as some shock to listen to him harshly criticise the medal he received on 4 events.
Michael Clarke has graced the pink carpet on the Allan Border Medal for a few years, however now says he solely went as a result of it was in his contract that he needed to
Clarke and outstanding journalist Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield obtained right into a disagreement of kinds over his remarks on Monday, after the pair have been discussing the state of affairs NRL membership the St George Illawarra Dragons discovered themselves in on the finish of the season, when simply three of their squad turned as much as the end-of-season presentation night time.
Rothfield mentioned such a poorly attended awards ceremony mirrored badly on each the membership and the gamers who did not go.
‘Three out of 30 St George Illawarra gamers turning as much as their presentation night time … there have been many, many gamers who have been nonetheless in Sydney and selected to boycott the awards … I feel it was an appalling resolution the gamers made,’ he mentioned on their Huge Sports activities Breakfast present on Sky Sports activities Radio.
Outstanding sports activities journalist Phil Rothfield (pictured) was left astounded when Clarke mentioned he solely went to the Allan Border Medal as a result of he needed to
Clarke agreed it wasn’t ‘a very good place for any membership to be (in)’, earlier than dropping a bombshell about Australian cricket’s largest awards ceremony.
‘They don’t seem to be pleasurable nights,’ he mentioned.
‘I consider (the) Allan Border Medal, proper. The Allan Border Medal was obligatory, that is why I went. If I used to be given the choice, even successful the Allan Border Medal, I would not have went.
‘You’ve got obtained media round the entire time, so you possibly can’t unwind and drink as a result of there might be a photograph or a video and somebody being pi**ed or beneath the climate, after which you have to examine that the following day,’ mentioned Clarke, who received the medal in 2005, 2009, 2012 and 2013.
It is an fascinating motive for not desirous to attend a glamorous awards ceremony – with free food and drinks – to acknowledge the cricket season and thank sponsors and followers given the quantity of people that have loved awards ceremonies with out ‘being pi**ed or beneath the climate’.
The footy world each lauded and laughed with Brisbane Lions AFLW coach Craig Starcevich when he down a ‘shoey’ of champagne after Emily Bates received the sport’s finest and fairest award earlier this 12 months.
Clarke was then coaxed into revealing extra about why he hated cricket’s night time of nights a lot.
Lions coach Craig Starcevich despatched the footy world ablaze after downing a champagne ‘shoey’ on the AFLW Awards earlier this 12 months. Followers and pundits lauded the mentor’s love for his gamers and down-to-earth nature
Dockers star Andrew Brayshaw calmly enjoys a glass of white wine at this 12 months’s Brownlow Medal
Michael Clarke raises a glass of Crown Lager to the group after successful the Allan Border Medal in 2012
The previous skipper dropped his ex-teammates in it when he mentioned, ‘We went as a result of it was obligatory. We weren’t given an possibility. It is in our contract, we needed to go.’
Rothfield expressed his ‘shock’ that Clarke would denigrate the legacy of one of many largest cult heroes of Australian cricket, Allan Border.
However Clarke insisted his criticism of the Medal night wasn’t an affront to Border.
‘It is nothing to do with Allan Border, do not go there Buzz. Allan Border’s a legend, he is the godfather. I really like AB. Do not make it private … I needn’t go to Crown On line casino (the place the Medal is held) to see him,’ he mentioned.
‘Do not make it private, it is nothing to do with the medal being referred to as after AB.’
The pair agreed to disagree, earlier than fellow host, league legend Laurie Daley, mentioned he completely ‘beloved going to the presentation nights’, in stark opposition to Clarke.
Michael Clarke hits the Allan Border Medal carpet with now-ex companions, celebrity mannequin Lara Bingle (proper) and Kyly Boldy (left), additionally a mannequin
Michael Clarke loved an unbelievable profession for Australia, together with main the nation to a 50 over World Cup win on house soil in 2015
Clarke’s feedback fly within the face of what he mentioned after successful the Medal in 2012, when he defined why the night time was so particular to him.
‘It is very nice on nights like tonight that particular person gamers get rewarded … for me personally I’ve put in loads of work over the past couple of years … so I really feel very honoured to have received the Allan Border Medal this 12 months,’ Clarke mentioned in an interview with cricket.com.au on the time.
‘You see all of the gamers’ companions get on so effectively, (and) it is nice to see the boys which were injured, you get to have a beer with these boys!’
