Thaindian News

Melbourne, June 11 (IANS) Australian captain Michael Clarke has vowed not to repeat the mistakes committed during the controversial 2008 Sydney test against India when the World Champions tour down-under for a four-match series in December.

The Sydney Test is synonymous with the “Monkeygate” fiasco which centred around Harbhajan Singh allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a “monkey”. Clarke admitted to have played a role in that and said he would ensure incidents like these don’t happen this time around.

“There are certain players in both teams who look back on what happened there and wish it didn’t happen,” Clarke told The Daily Telegraph.

“But you learn from that. There are so many things in your life that you learn from. For me as a player that is one of them.”

Clarke recalled a moment in the match that directly involved him.

“I was caught at slip off my glove and didn’t walk. It is an area where I look back now and wonder ‘what were you thinking’. It was clearly off my glove.

“I do like to wait until the umpire gives me out but when it is clear like that I get off the field. I have learnt from that. Hopefully I don’t make the same mistake again,” he said.

Though Clarke himself has opted out of playing in the annually held Indian Premier League, he feels the other Australian cricketers playing alongside locals in the cash-rich event will help ease the tension on the field during the highly anticipated series.

“It (the IPL) has built relationships between players no doubt. Guys play against each other and then go to IPL and play with each other. I think that’s great for the game,” said Clarke.

Clarke was chosen as Ricky Ponting’s successor after the latter stepped down following Australia’s quarterfinal exit from the World Cup at the hands of eventual champions India.