Michael Clarke believes the processes the team went through in handling David Warner’s nightclub altercation were consistent with the way Australia punished four players in India for not handing in their homework.
Vice-captain at the time, Shane Watson was one of the players stood down from the third Test in Mohali, and was vocal at the time about the harshness of the action taken against him.
A Nine News television report on Friday alleged Watson had now blown up in Birmingham about an attempt by the team to cover up Warner’s indiscretion.
The report was vehemently denied by Clarke and Cricket Australia.
Clarke says only Watson can say if he feels there’s been inconsistency in approach, but the skipper noted his former deputy has not voiced any concerns to him or coach Mickey Arthur.
“You’ll have to ask Shane (if he feels there were double standards), but he certainly hasn’t spoken to me or any of the leadership group members about not being satisfied with Dave’s punishment,” Clarke said.
“I think if you look at Dave’s punishment, I think it’s very consistent with the process we went through in India and the result of what’s happened in India.”
Clarke denied a cover up and said he doesn’t believe he and others in leadership positions underestimated the severity of Warner’s behaviour at the Walkabout bar in the early hours of Sunday morning.
This despite it taking until two hours before start of play in Australia’s match against New Zealand on Wednesday to stand Warner down.
Asked why his stand-in skipper George Bailey described the Warner issue as “very minor”, Clarke said the Tasmanian may have not had all the facts.
“I didn’t hear George say that and I’m not sure George knew everything at that stage. I certainly don’t want to be doing the wrong thing by George,” Clarke said.
“His focus would have been wholly and solely on making sure the boys stay up after the game. I think as we’ve seen it’s a pretty big incident for the team and Davey, hence the consequences.”
Clarke agreed with Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland that the five players present with Warner – Clint McKay, Matt Wade, Mitchell Marsh, Phil Hughes and Glenn Maxwell, also deserved to feel guilty of letting down the team.
“To be out at that hour celebrating or carrying on like we were celebrating (after a loss). Especially with the opposition, is not the right time or place to be having a few drinks,” Clarke said.
AAP bh/rf
