Question of the Day: Why hate Michael Clarke?

The retirement of Michael Clarke from all forms cricket has been nearly as interesting to watch as some of his dashing play from days of yore.

Immediately after announcing his retirement to good friend Shane Warne EXCLUSIVELY on Channel 9, Clarke mentioned his desire to slip back into commentary, which could only benefit from more cricketing analysts and less of this guy.

Following this, past teammates and a coach of Clarke have all come out and criticized him for not being a team player or 'honoring the baggy green'.  Now, I don't know much about the Australian cricket teams culture, but I'm pretty sure it emphasizes things like respect and trust, rather than slagging someone you don't like very much like a character out of Mean Girls.

Artists impression of former Australian cricketers

So is Michael Clarke a bad bloke? Maybe.  Is he disruptive to the team?  Could be.  Are the other players and past players disruptive to the team?  It seems so.

So why go after Clarke?

Admittedly, he is a bogan but that is also no unique status in a group of blokes who were good at sport at school & find tracksuits an acceptable form of fashion wear.

Ahem.

He is a bit flashy & seems concerned about his brand and career after cricket, but is that a crime?  On the scale of flashiness, he is hardly in the air of conceitedness that some of his mates are, and looking after oneself for a career after cricket is hardly anything new.

If anything, Clarke has braved changing the culture of the previous coach and era of Australian players & allowed future players and Captains be their own person.

Not bad for a bogan.