Australian coach Darren Lehmann has defended Michael Clarke after a wave of criticism for the retiring Australian skipper.

On Monday, ex-Australian opener Matthew Hayden told the story of the time Clarke threatened to hand back his baggy green cap during a Test if he was forced to field at bat-pad.

Then former Australian coach John Buchanan said Clarke did little as a leader to uphold the tradition of the baggy green.

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“Players like Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and others really tried to make the `baggy green’ culture something special,” Buchanan told News Corp.

“But I could sense it was under threat and under Michael’s captaincy I can sense it has disappeared a bit and that disappointed me.

“I can remember guys like Hayden and (Justin) Langer sitting him down in a corner and trying to get him to understand what we were trying to achieve.

“There were times when I felt Michael did not understand or did not want to understand.”

Clarke’s former mate Andrew Symonds said he was not a “natural leader”.

“It was very easy to fall in behind a Steve Waugh or Ricky Ponting when asked to do something. They were the sort of men that didn’t need to say a great deal,” Symonds said.

“Michael’s got a completely different style, which he’s entitled to. I didn’t play a great deal of cricket under him. I played quite a lot with him, but he’s got his style.

“It’s a situation which will be debated and talked about for quite some time, his style, and the way he’s gone about things over the years.”

But Lehmann took to Twitter to celebrate Clarke’s career.

“Disappointed in some stories regarding Pup,” he wrote.

“Let’s celebrate and recognise him for the great player he is and let him enjoy his last Test.”