Matches Not Won Or Lost By Sledging, Says Ex-India Opener As He Slams Michael Clarke
Published - 15 Apr 2020, 04:01 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:05 AM
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke recently raised a number of eyebrows by saying that the Australian players went soft on the Indian team and on captain Virat Kohli during the home series in 2018-19 season.
Speaking on Big Sports Breakfast, the World Cup-winning skipper said Australian cricket went through a phase when players were too scared to sledge Indian stars especially Virat Kohli for fear it could jeopardise their contracts in the lucrative IPL. He went as far as saying that his compatriots ‘sucked up’ to Virat Kohli and India to protect their million dollar IPL deals.
Unsurprisingly, his comments drew reaction from all around with even the likes of Pat Cummins and Tim Paine denying the claims. And now former India batsman Krishnamachari Srikkanth has reacted to Clarke’s comment too. Krishnamachari Srikkanth said that the comment from Clarke were ridiculous and that cricket matches are not won or lost only be sledging.
“You do not win matches just by sledging. Aussie’s loss is a loss, his statement was ridiculous I would say. If you ask Nasser Hussain or Sir Vivian Richards who are experienced players, you can never score runs or get wickets through sledging. You need to play good cricket and showcase determination; you need to bowl well to get wickets and bat well to achieve targets. Sledging cannot help in any way according to my opinion,” Krishnamachari Srikkanth said on Star Sports connected.
Talking about that series, India had won it 2-1. It was India’s first-ever series win in Australia. The Virat Kohli-led side won the first Test in Adelaide before losing the next one in Perth. But the visitors bounced back to win the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne before Australia escaped with a draw in the fourth Test in Sydney.
