As if the Ball Tampering dramas haven’t gone on long enough, with too much hype and way too many opinions, then comes the news about a Michael Clarke Return to “help out the Australian Cricket team” which many read as wanting to make a comeback. We say, that it’s the last straw.
Welcome to The Weekly Gripe, a once a week opportunity to moan about something in particular, rather than trying to crowbar it into another regular piece. We do a lot moaning, so once a week shouldn’t be a stretch, and this week it’s all about the Michael Clarke return.
The Ball Tampering drama/scandal/issue has been a much bigger circus than it really needed to be. It’s not the first time that a cricket side has cheating, nor has it been the first time the Australian Cricket Team have been jerks on or off a cricket field. And was anyone truly surprised that David Warner was heavily involved?
Opinions and comment came flying in from everywhere. Past players, current sports stars from any sport, and someone called Former Test Great masquerading as Gavin Robertson.
The worst opinions came from the most ignorant and unlikeable people in Australia – Social Commentators on Breakfast News Shows and the Prime Minister of Australia.
Everyone had one, and it became a circus, full of teary press conferences, stage managed PR events, loss of endorsements that made you wonder just how on earth companies thought they were getting value for money before the tampering, and penalties handed down and a will they or won’t they appeal.
It became tedious, boring and annoying. But it had seemed to blow over, and we were almost done with it all. Until the Michael Clarke bombshell.
Why is a Michael Clarke return such a final straw?
Michael Clarke was never really loved when he did play for Australia, perhaps unfairly, but he never really appeared to wanting to be loved. Most begrudgingly gave him respect because of his achievements and stature of Australian captain, but found him hard to like because of the off field persona. Much like Lewis Hamilton or even a Cristiano Ronado. He eventually landed right where he belongs a former Australian Cricket Captain with loads of stats, self love where everything can be related back to one moment in his career and a general attitude that makes him very hard to like – the Channel Nein commentary. Our website’s annual poll winners of 2016 Jerk of he Year.
The way he quickly melded into that team, showed just how unlikeable he could be. Not that we would know after a few summers of boycotting Channel Nein completely. But we’re sure there’s been a few memorable moments or quizzes that involved him at some point.
That’s why the normal and social media picked up the story about a Michael Clarke playing return recently. There were many a howl of disgust at the thought. Same from us.
Of course he came out and tried to deny he said a playing return, but this Fox Sorts article says different. That it was Michael Clarke putting his toe in the water for public Australian Cricket family opinion on a potential return. Well Pup, the average Australian Cricket fan have had their say, and not many are keen. If any.
Although Clarke is part of a team (Channel Nein) that consistently doesn’t care about, and won’t listen to regular Cricket fans. They tend to tell the Cricket fans what they think we should be watching. So don’t rule out that it could happen. Stranger things have.
But for all the penalties handed down by Cricket Australia during this ball tampering saga, a rubber stamp by Cricket Australia for Michael Clarke would be the harshest penalty for all. For the Australia Cricket fan. And in a year where they are trying to sell their broadcast rights and are struggling, it could be the last straw for many viewers. It certainly will be for us.
Crap! Bring back MC you don’t need to be loved to lead a team to greatness you just need ‘respect’ something that steve smith was never going to get as captain.