It's official. New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori insists he has not apologised to Brad Haddin but hopes he has finally put Glovegate to rest.
Rested Australian captain Ricky Ponting sparked the controversy yesterday when he tried to claim the moral high ground by saying Vettori had apologised via a text message to Haddin for his post-match comments in Perth.
The New Zealand camp - who still believed Haddin's gloves knocked the bails off when Neil Broom was controversially bowled - objected yesterday, saying it was merely a clear-the-air message and no backdown on his comments.
Vettori said today: "I sent a text to Brad saying whilst we agree to disagree on the situation, there was no inference of anything malicious on my part.
"I said there was no inference of that (cheating) from the team or myself."
So, did that constitute an apology?
"It was just a statement," Vettori said.
Haddin reportedly sent a return text, thanking Vettori.
Stand-in Australian captain Michael Clarke backed Vettori's version, saying he'd seen the text and he didn't think it was an apology either.
"I can't remember the text -- I don't know if it said `sorry', put it that way - but it was a text saying that mate, it's done and dusted.
"I don't think you're a cheat' - I do remember reading that - and mate, let's get on with it."
Vettori, whose team take a 1-0 lead into the second match here tomorrow, said he did not regret making the original comments which inferred Haddin knew he had done something wrong at the time.
"I just answered a question. It was the way I felt about it at the time, simple as that."
Clearly tiring of the issue, Vettori hoped Glovegate would be forgotten when the teams take the field at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"Both teams will disagree on the situation and move on. You can't always be expected to be on the right page with things.
"Everyone has their own opinion, whatever your opinion is, doesn't mean it's right or doesn't mean it's wrong."
