Cricket's Beige Brigade lines up Michael Clarke

KENT BLECHYNDEN/The Dominion Post

CAPITAL ARRIVAL: Michael Clarke arrives in Wellington to intense media interest.

NICK MOIR/Sydney Morning Herald

UPSET: Australian cricketer Michael Clarke arrives at Sydney Airport for his flight to New Zealand.

Opinion poll

Do you think Michael Clarke did the right thing in ending his relationship with Lara Bingle?

Yes (and I'm a male)

Yes (I'm a female)

No (I'm a male)

No (I'm a female)

Vote Result

Related Links

Fears that NZ crowd will show Clarke no mercy This Clarke-Bingle mess is just not cricket Australians ready to welcome Clarke back Michael Clarke at Wellington Airport It's official: engagement off for Bingle, Clarke

Relevant offers

Cricket

England county cricketer jailed for match-fixing India role cracker for Gary Kirsten 'Shape up or ship out' the newest Wellington way Knights steady after first day against Stags Sri Lanka hammer Australia in shortened match First-day honours to Otago Virtual Eye not designed for decision referrals Black Caps to put Proteas in a spin England cruise to T20 victory over White Ferns Australian Symonds retires from pro cricket

The leader of New Zealand's supporter group, the Beige Brigade, says Michael Clarke will be ''copping it'' from the crowd during the first Test at Wellington's Basin Reserve in his reappearance since ending his high-profile relationship with Lara Bingle.

''For anyone to suggest a story that has been all over the newspapers, on every TV station, every radio report and all over the internet sites is going to be ignored when the Test starts - they don't have a prayer,'' Beige Brigade co-founder Paul Ford told the Sydney Morning Herald.

''What was Mike Hussey thinking when he said it was out of bounds? It's something that every New Zealander and every Australian has been talking about at the pub and at work.

"Put it this way: if [New Zealand captain] Dan Vettori was going through some trouble and he was going out to play at the WACA or the MCG, he'd be hearing about it, too. Copping it from the crowd is part and parcel of it.

''[Clarke] seems like a pretty easy guy for us to dislike - a latte-drinking, Aston Martin-loving type of guy. But he's a fantastic player and probably a tough little bugger.

"I think he's been pretty dignified how he's handled everything and I doubt any banners or comments at the ground will put him off his game. Great players like him usually don't react - but we'll be trying to put him off. He's given a lot of New Zealanders a reason to go to the game.''

Clarke skipped a function at Parliament House after arriving at Wellington last night, receiving treatment from team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris on his back while the rest of the Test squad attended the formal gathering.

After pushing through media scrums at Sydney and Wellington airports, Australia's besieged vice-captain had belatedly found some peace and quiet at the team hotel. He is expected to make his first public comment since his split with ex-fiancee Bingle either today or tomorrow, although his remarks will be confined to cricket and the first Test against New Zealand starting on Friday.

Twenty members of the media were waiting for Clarke to get off QF47 at Wellington. Two policemen checked the scene before any passengers were seen. Clarke needed a laborious two-minute walk to get to a white Toyota out in the car park. He said ''I have no comment'' six times.

Earlier, Cricket Australia had told Clarke on his way to Sydney airport that Channel Seven had booked a cameraman and reporter on to his flight in a bid to land an interview. He was furious they had bought business-class tickets to ensure they were parked right near him. ''He was called about it on the way to the airport and he wasn't happy about it,'' a source close to Clarke said.

CA officials made a direct request to the captain of the New Zealand-bound flight to prevent the Channel Seven crew from filming Clarke in the cabin. He was told by Michael Brown, CA's operations manager, to ensure he smiled while walking through the media scrum in Sydney but the advice was not heeded as a stern-looking Clarke made his way through the airport.

Brown said Clarke was mentally equipped to deal with any needling from New Zealand fans. ''I haven't assessed his state of mind, I'm certainly no psychologist, but I talked to him and he said he wants to play,'' he said. ''He's dealt with difficult crowds all around the world. He's … made some difficult decisions but … he's ready to play for Australia.''

- © Fairfax NZ News