Clarke slams talk of player unrest

Retiring Australian captain Michael Clarke has reacted strongly to reports of player unrest in his team, labelling the allegations "a load of s**t".

A report that ran in News Corp newspapers on Monday claimed division in the playing ranks was "the real reason" Clarke decided to retire from Test cricket in the wake of Australia's Ashes defeat.

The report alleged Clarke's social isolation from his teammates - including a decision not to travel on the team bus - the sacking of veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, a long-running feud between the partners of two senior players and uncertainty around selection had created deep divisions in the playing group.

Watch: Clarke speaks after announcing his retirement

Normally a diplomatic statesman, Clarke stepped away from his usually measured responses to blast the report.

"When you don't perform there's always going to be Chinese whispers and 'he says, she says'," Clarke told Triple M Melbourne's The Hot Breakfast, having laughed when told of the specifics in the report.

"At the end of the day the players are the ones who walk onto the field, we have to perform and we haven't performed well enough.

"I can guarantee you the feeling in this group is exceptional. There's no disharmony in this group whatsoever. The players are as tight as any team I've been a part of.

"Travelling in different cars? What a load of s**t.

"Wives and girlfriends being on tour is a distraction? What a load of s**t. That's absolute garbage."

The captain continued on, heaping praise on his wife Kyly, who is expecting the couple's first child later this year.

"I'll give back 10 of my Test hundreds if it wasn't for my beautiful wife," Clarke said.

"The amount of happiness and joy that she brings to me is a massive part in pushing me to get me out of bed to try and be the best player I can be.

"I'd be half the player I am today without her support and my family's support. And I'm sure all the players would say that about their wives and partners and kids.

"Your wife or partner doesn't walk out onto the field and bat for you. That's your job, that's your responsibility."

Clarke backed the decision of selectors to replace Haddin with Peter Nevill following the first Test in Cardiff, but said it was difficult to accept due to his long history with his state and international teammate.

Watch: Lehmann admits Australia made selection mistakes

"That's obviously extremely tough and one that's close to my heart because I've been great mates with Hadds my whole career," he said.

"I think the selectors made it very clear that that was one of the toughest decisions they've made.

"More importantly to me, the way Brad has handled himself is a credit to any international player that gets dropped. He's gone out of his way to help Peter Nevill, he's stuck to the group, he's still very vocal in team meetings to help the team move forward.

"It is tough for me because as I say I'm emotionally attached to him. I grew up as a 17-year-old boy I started training and playing with Brad Haddin and he's always been a part of the teams I've been in. So it's tough.

"Selectors made it clear that they made their decision based on cricket performance and they thought it was the right decision.

"I respect and understand that when you don't perform as a team, there's always going to be questions but at the end of the day it comes down to performance."

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