Great personal rivalries behind the scenes – Australia

Australia in their prime considered ‘team spirit’ as their 12th man! Something which gave them the edge over other teams. It looked like they hunted like a pack of wolves, devouring the opposition with everyone contributing. However, the Aussies also had their problems with each other and have even more of them these days.

So, here are those famous individual rivalries Australian cricketers have had. Some are compelling to hear, some are not. Some helped the team, some didn’t.
1) Shane Warne vs. Adam Gilchrist – Ironically, these two formed the greatest bowler-wicketkeeper partnership in the game’s history. However, both till date cannot stand each other! It all started in a first class match. In an attempt to dominate Gilly, Warne sledged him with words which he could not digest. However, fortunately both found common ground in their love for their country and the team. Despite all this, Gilly acknowledged Warne as one of the best teammates to have, in his autobiography.

2) Michael Clarke vs. Simon Katich – This rivalry might just be holding the Aussies back big time at present! They were very good friends at one time, but that all changed on the 2009 tour of South Africa when Katich allegedly choked Clarke over the timing of singing the team anthem and both had to be separated before getting into blows. A petty issue this may be, but no love is lost between the two as Katich went on to accuse Clarke solely for removing him from the national side in 2011.

3) Michael Clarke vs. Shane Watson - Katich is not the only one apparently with whom Clarke has problems with. Shane Watson, for quite a while now has not impressed Clarke with his form and physical fitness. Mickey Arthur, the recently sacked Australian coach mentioned Clarke calling Watson a ‘cancer’ to the team.

Clarke had naturally sided with Arthur and the team management on the ill-fated tour of India this year in which Watto was suspended for one Test match for an incomplete presentation. That seems to have soured relations between the two.

4) Ricky Ponting vs. Brett Lee – Ponting and Lee don’t belong to the same school of thought, despite them forming a lethal captain-bowler pair in ODI cricket especially in the last decade. This is where their ‘cold war’ originated from perhaps.

Their one disagreement which stood out was in a 2008 Test match in Mohali when Ponting tried to use part time spinners in order to keep up with the over rate rather than Lee for taking wickets.

Although Lee and Ponting get along decently, Lee only considers him as a great batsman but Steve Waugh as a greater leader than him.