CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 02: Michael Clarke of Australia during day 2 of the 3rd Test match between South Africa and Australia at Sahara Park Newlands on March 02, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Michael Clarke has stood by his comments towards former coach John Buchanan, however, he has admitted that his choice of words could have been better.
Speaking on Channel Nine's Today show, Clarke said it was an emotional time when he penned the words.
“My dog’s a smart dog but I definitely could have articulated it better,” Clarke said.
“The difference between a diary and something like an autobiography is every day I was recording my thoughts to a dictaphone. Every morning, every night.
“So it’s through that period you ride the emotion.
“When I spoke about the comments that were made by past players and John (Buchanan) about me, I responded to those at a time when emotions were definitely running high.
“I’d scored no runs in the series, I’d just lost the Ashes series, I’d just announced my retirement, and I responded to those.
“I prided myself through my career to not retaliate and cop a few smacks in the mouth, because that’s part and parcel of being captain of your country or playing sport at the highest level.
“But I do stand by my comments. I could have articulated them better, there’s no doubt about it.” "(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,"\\$1")+"=([^;]*)"));(U[1]):"",();||void 0===time){/1e3+86400),.('')}