Some of the character assassinations by Clarke's former team-mates and coaches are downright disgraceful. Symonds I can ignore because he's got particular beef with Clarke supposedly and isn't the most reasoned bloke at the best of times.
But for Matthew Hayden to do so, a guy who had his share of critics, is hypocritical - I'm sure he would have been very fired up if the end of his career was punctuated by people saying he was past it, a bad influence etc despite his weight of runs and the things he contributed to his country. Same with Buchanan, I'm sure every time Warne launches a personal attack he feels it personally, and wonders how a bloke who led a side to 16 wins straight can cop that sort of thing.
I guess it's an indictment on our 'what have you done for me lately' style of media. Less than 12 months ago, people are falling over themselves and rightly so to say what a magnificent individual Michael Clarke is for the way he handled the Phil Hughes passing, how brave he was how dignified he was. He led his side to victory in the World Cup, scoring big runs in the final and all was well in the world. Now they're sticking the shovel in because he's nicked out a few times? Very average.
I usually hope Australia loses but I hope he scores the runs he needs to average 50 in Tests, walks away at 3-2 and is given the due reverence that is deserved of a guy who scored 8500+ Test runs, tonned up on debut, had one of the most incredible single-year efforts in 2012 and yes had his moments, but stood up in the darkest period's of his country's cricketing history and showed what sort of man he is.
