I have always had the utmost respect for Dale Steyn: Michael Clarke

Releasing your autobiography after calling time on the International Cricket seems to be in fashion these days. Add to that, a few controversial statements, and you have got yourself a best seller.

Sticking to the norm, the latest inclusion on the list of releasing autobiographies is the ex-Captain of Australia, Michael Clarke. An immensely talented and successful Cricketer, Michael Clarke has had his fair share of controversies during his playing time; whether it was his physical spat with Simon Katich that led to quite a news or that famous Andrew Symonds controversy, Clarke always found a way to remain in the limelight, although, most of the time in a negative way.

However, one of the ugliest incidents in Clarke’s career came against South Africa in Capetown a couple of years ago against Dale Steyn.

It all started with the Australian Skipper visibly furious over an incorrect decision that saw Vernon Philander given not out after he gloved a catch to short leg. This led to an argument between an already frustrated Clarke and Dale Steyn at the non-striker’s end. Obviously, Steyn didn’t take the incident so light labelling it as one of the worst sledging he has ever faced in his career.

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Now, two years after the incident, Clarke has decided to apologise to Steyn for whatever happened in Capetown in his book

“I have always had the utmost respect for Dale. We were tough competitors all through our careers. In my book, I picked the best 12 I played with or against and Dale was one,” he was quoted as saying by The Advertiser.

“He was such a tough competitor I had to do whatever I could in my mind to combat what he was,” he said.

Yeah, quite an apology from Clarke, but one wonders if it’s too little too late?

Meanwhile, the South African camp said that Steyn still thinks about the incident. It would be interesting to see how Steyn responds to that!