Clarke's tweet sparks heat

Not for the first time in Michael Clarke’s career, it’s not just his batting form that is provoking debate with off-field issues adding to the pressure on Australia’s stand-in captain. Twitter has again been to the fore after he responded to a strong article by an Australian journalist by tweeting he should “take a chill pill.”

The journalist wasn’t impressed that Clarke has been using Twitter to try and get Steve Smith a date for the Allan Border Medal next month while he continues to struggle for form. Clarke, who has had a low approval rating from the Australian public this summer, admitted that in an ideal world things he did away from the cricket pitch weren't such an issue, but knows it is part of being a prominent sportsman.

“Don’t get me wrong, I wish it wasn’t there,” he said. “But with our job it’s part of what we do. The most important thing for is that we are winning. Individual scrutiny comes and goes, at the moment I’m copping a little bit of stick.

“When it comes to cricket fair enough because I’ve not been performing as well as I’d like. I continue to say it’s part and parcel of what comes with it. Everyone wishes it didn’t happen, but what can you do? You have to accept that.” Or maybe he could tweet it as well.