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Michael Clarke has apologised for a heated exchanged with Dale Steyn in the Test series decider, admitting he was “out of line”.
The thrilling final day of the three-Test series was played at a high tempo, and tempers finally flared with an hour to go following Vernon Philander’s successful review of his dismissal.
Words were exchanged between Steyn and James Pattinson, then Clarke entered the debate with pointed gestures reminiscent of his infamous run-in with Jimmy Anderson in Brisbane last year.
Umpires intervened and Clarke regained composure, making up with Steyn shortly after.
“I apologise to the opposition player I was out of line to,” Clarke said.
“A player who I have the utmost respect for, who tries to kill me every time I bat – who batted exceptionally well.
“Let’s just say he got me at a bad time (following Philander’s review).
“Something was said to one of my teammates. I seem to make this mistake a few times, but I jumped in after him.”
Steyn, nursing a hamstring strain he sustained in the first innings, survived for 44 balls as the Proteas threatened to salvage a draw in the match.
Clarke was also cautioned by the umpires for his fielders’ habit of throwing the ball into the pitch, a tactic used to rough the ball up and make reverse-swing easier to attain.
“The umpires were up me about a few things. That was one of them,” Clarke said.
“I always believed that if you’re in the ring you should be throwing the ball on the full … on the boundary you can accept that some guys can’t throw it that far.
“Whatever criticism we cop for that, I’m more than happy to cop.
“Our players understand there is a line and we know not to overstep that.
“We were asked by the umpires to make sure we were throwing the ball on the full and I think we accepted that and listened to that.”
Faf du Plessis was hounded by the Australians for his colourful remarks to the media two days ago, in which he likened them to “a pack of dogs” in the field.
Du Plessis was taunted about his ball-tampering charge last year and barked at, with David Warner among the more vocal.
“I wanted to give the people at home some entertainment while they were blocking it,” Warner joked.
SNAPSHOT OF DAY FIVE OF THIRD AND FINAL TEST BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA IN CAPE TOWN:
SCORE: Australia 7dec-494 & 5dec-303, South Africa 287 & 265
RESULT: Australia win by 245 runs
SERIES: Australia win 2-1
MAN OF THE MOMENT: RYAN HARRIS. In desperate need of knee surgery and nursing a painful hip injury, the bullocking paceman put one last effort in and was rewarded with the final two wickets to fall in a dramatic Test.
KEY MOMENT: Harris was in doubt to bowl in the second innings due to his hip injury, but returned with five overs remaining and rattled the stumps of both Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel to end the Proteas’ second innings after 591 minutes.
STAT OF THE DAY: In terms of innings of 200-plus balls, AB de Villiers’ strike rate of 15 is the third lowest in the history of Test cricket.
SUMMARY: Australia snare the two key scalps of AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis in the second session, but Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn offer 77 minutes of resistance to almost salvage a draw for the hosts.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I had to find a new way to run,” HARRIS, a glutton for punishment, explains how he was able to bowl in the second innings.
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