Clarke bats off nightclub clash
David Braithwaite
June 21, 2006 - 11:01AM
Cricket Australia has downplayed a reported scuffle between Parramatta rugby league player Tim Smith and star cricketer Michael Clarke as a "minor misunderstanding".
Smith is back in the news for off-field misadventures after reportedly pushing Clarke during a heated argument at a Cronulla nightspot about 10pm on Sunday.
Bouncers at the Northies hotel then ejected Smith from the pub, it was reported.
Reports quoted a witness to the incident who said the pair had to be separated by security.
"They were in each other's faces. Then Smith pushed Michael Clarke and he got kicked out," he said.
It is understood Smith, who was drinking with teammate Mark Riddell, then moved on to nearby nightclub Fusion.
A spokesman for Cricket Australia said Clarke described the blow-up as "something out of nothing", which normally would not have attracted a second glance.
"Clearly there was minor misunderstanding between the two of them and staff at the nightclub handled it at the time very well."
Tim Smith and, inset, Michael Clarke ... "Clearly there was minor misunderstanding between the two of them and staff at the nightclub handled it at the time very well."
Cricket Australia has downplayed a reported scuffle between Parramatta rugby league player Tim Smith and star cricketer Michael Clarke as a "minor misunderstanding".
Smith is back in the news for off-field misadventures after reportedly pushing Clarke during a heated argument at a Cronulla nightspot about 10pm on Sunday.
Bouncers at the Northies hotel then ejected Smith from the pub, it was reported.
Reports quoted a witness to the incident who said the pair had to be separated by security.
"They were in each other's faces. Then Smith pushed Michael Clarke and he got kicked out," he said.
It is understood Smith, who was drinking with teammate Mark Riddell, then moved on to nearby nightclub Fusion.
A spokesman for Cricket Australia said Clarke described the blow-up as "something out of nothing", which normally would not have attracted a second glance.
"Clearly there was minor misunderstanding between the two of them and staff at the nightclub handled it at the time very well," the spokesman said.
"Michael carried on with his evening and is back preparing for the coming summer.
"He said [the incident] was over extremely quickly - it was such a minor incident he didn't even speak to his management staff about it."
Smith's manager, David Rioli, was quoted as saying he understood it was not a major incident.
Just over a month ago the reigning Dally M Rookie of the year turned up drunk for Eels training along with Riddell and was stood down from first grade.
- with AAP.
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