Michael Clarke Noosa Fight, Net Worth, Height & Girlfriend

Michael Clarke is a name that is synonymous with Australian cricket. A naturally talented batsmen who successfully left his mark on the sport he idolised from a young age, Clarke’s career spanned many triumphs and struggles before he retired in 2015 with plenty of accolades to his name.

A polarising figure, Clarke was as much renowned for his ability at the bat as he was scrutinised for his personality and off-field character, much to his disdain. And despite making the fifth most runs in Australian Test cricket, he remained a divisive figure among Australian sporting fans throughout his career. 

Read on for a full breakdown of the Australian sporting legend who impressed and split opinion like no other.

Michael Clarke Quick Facts

Who is Michael Clarke?

Michael Clarke AO is a former Australian cricketer, Officer of the Order of Australia (OA) honouree, commentator and entrepreneur who captained the Australian cricket team in both Test and One Day International (ODI) matches between 2011 and 2015, leading the side to their 2015 Cricket World Cup triumph.

Clarke was born and raised in the suburb of Liverpool, New South Wales, and found his way to cricket in his junior years via sessions at his father’s indoor cricket centre after school. He also represented the Western Suburbs District Cricket Club.

At 17, Clarke would face the first significant obstacle of his career when scans revealed three degenerative discs in his lower back that would restrict his back movement for the foreseeable future. Through strengthening his core with exercises, Clarke was able to ease the discomfort caused by the issue and push for a long career at the top level.

Regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time, Clarke would endure one of the most intriguing spells as team captain when taking on the role for Australia’s Test and ODI matches in 2011.

Michael Clarke’s Cricket Career

Early career

Michael Clarke’s professional debut arrived when he was just eighteen-years-old in a game against the touring Indian side at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in December 1999. In addition, Clarke held an AIS Australian Cricket Academy scholarship between 1999 and 2000.

Clarke eventually joined Ramsbottom Cricket Club in English club cricket in 2002, which is where he famously became the first player to hit a double century in the history of the Lancashire League, reaffirming his ability to do just about anything with a cricket bat. 

Clarke’s debut Test series was during Australia’s 2004 tour of India in the first Test match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. Significantly, his Test debut would be earned 22 months after his ODI debut in January 2003 at the age of twenty-two against England. Despite his relative youth and inexperience when compared with the players around him, Clarke more than held his own as he went on to score 151 runs and be named player of the match in Australia’s win, invoking comparisons to past Australian batsmen such as Doug Walters and Mark Waugh along the way.

Contrary to the belief that he was not a strong bowler, he followed up his POTM win by taking six wickets for nine runs in the fourth Test match of the series, a bowling performance he was unable to repeat or best before retiring.

Staking his claim in the international circuit

After being dropped from the national team as a result of an underwhelming showing against the West Indies in 2005, Clarke focused his efforts on reforming his batting style, the result of which led to strong performances in Australian domestic cricket and an eventual return to the national team for the 2006-07 Ashes series, a biennial set of matches which has pit Australia against long standing rivals England since the first series in 1882-83. 

It was during the 2006-07 series (where he was initially brought in as injury cover for Shane Watson) that Clarke cemented his place in the team by scoring centuries in the second and third matches at Adelaide Oval and back-to-back centuries at Perth’s WACA. 2007 continued to be an outstanding year for Clarke when he aided Australia’s efforts to retain the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, leading to him being named as 12th man in the ‘Team of the Tournament’.

In a legendary last-gasp showing, Clarke further endeared himself to cricketing fans when he claimed the final three wickets against India to win a Test match for Australia that ultimately ensured Australia would retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2008 during a period of transition following the retirement of key players. 

Clarke’s Captaincy

Initially taking over as a Vice-Captain following Adam Gilchrist’s retirement in 2008, Clarke would go on to become the Australian Twenty20 Captain in 2009. Following that, Clarke would celebrate his greatest achievement yet with his official anointment to the Australian captaincy in 2011 after the World Cup and Ricky Ponting’s decision to stand down from the role. 

Clarke’s time as captain saw him prove several doubters wrong and face unexpected challenges of his own, with the player affectionately known as ‘Clarkey’ (or to his teammates, ‘Pup’) taking the Australia team from number five to number one in the world within just 18 months. 

During this period, Clarke became the first Australian batsmen since Matthew Hayden in 2003 to score a triple hundred when he declared on 329 runs during a January 2012 home series against India. The score also broke the record for most runs scored at the Sydney Cricket Ground set by Englishman Reg ‘Tip’ Foster in the 1903/04 season.

After losing the 2013 Ashes in England, Clarke led Australia to a 5–0 victory in the 2013–14 Ashes series. Adding to excitement surrounding the landmark victory was Australia’s reclaiming of the No. 1 Test ranking from South Africa after defeating the side 2-1 in a 3 match Test series during Australia’s tour of South Africa in 2014.

His time as captain was marred late on by Australia producing their lowest Test score (47 all out) in 109 years, the shortest first innings (18.3 overs, 60 all out) in Test cricket history, and their worst defeat to India ever, having lost 4-0, the first whitewash for Australia since 1969. The results led to criticism from his (then) current and former teammates, with the tide of public opinion beginning to turn on the Australian captain. 

Why did Michael Clarke retire?

Michael Clarke was forced into retirement at the relatively young age of 34 because of a recurring hamstring injury that hampered his final years as a player. Despite his injury issues, he was able to guide Australia to their 2015 World Cup victory over New Zealand.

Whilst struggling for form and battling with injury throughout the 2015 Ashes series, Clarke announced his intention to retire at the conclusion of the final Test match, giving way to the new generation and his incumbent, Steve Smith.

What type of player was Michael Clarke?

Michael Clarke was a right-handed middle-order batsman, an occasional left-arm orthodox spin bowler and also a slip catcher. Known for his proficient batting style, Clarke was admired for his hard-working, skilful, and elegant approach to the game, and was often recognised for putting the team’s needs above his own.

As a captain, he was applauded for his bravery and aggressive decision-making, although this ambition to have his squad come out the gates firing would sometimes backfire. Despite this, Clarke had been praised throughout his career for his discipline, loyalty and selflessness as a player by many of his teammates. Legendary Australian cricket captain Ian Chappell went as far to name Clarke Australia’s greatest Test captain of the 21st century, the former 75-Test hero believing that Clarke was tactically the best “by quite a margin”.

However, not all teammates gelled with Clarke, with some such as Simon Katich and the late Andrew Symonds falling out with the former captain at different points in their careers. 

Katich, one of Australia’s finest Test openers, blamed Clarke for effectively ending his career once he became captain in revenge for a post-match incident several years earlier which saw Katich grab Clarke by the throat following a row about the delayed singing of Australia’s team song in the dressing room. 

Symonds addressed their falling out in The Brett Lee Podcast in 2022 when he identified that jealousy may have been the reason behind their acrimonious relationship. Symonds believed that his being a highly sought-after talent at the emergence of the bankrolled Indian Premier League (IPL) may have left Clarke envious of his teammate, who became the most expensive overseas player at the inaugural IPL auction.

To the annoyance of his opponents, Clarke was well-versed in the practice of sledging during games. In cricket, sledging is a commonly used tool designed to weaken the opposition through verbal intimidation and insults. Famously, a 23-year-old Clarke sledged legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, saying “You are too old, forget it. You need to go” during a Test match between Australia and India. Clarke quickly learned his lesson when Tendulkar’s batting partner, Virender Sehwag, returned serve and asked which breed of ‘Pup’ he was. 

This did not deter Clarke, who continued to sledge profusely well into the latter stages of his career, famously telling England cricketer Jimmy Anderson “Get ready for a broken f**king arm” during the 2013-14 Ashes. 

Why was Michael Clarke nicknamed ‘Pup’?

Having been the youngest member of the Australian squad at the time of his arrival, Clarke was given the nickname ‘Pup’ to reflect his youth in comparison with the teammates around him, some of whom included Australian cricket legends like Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting, who was apparently the teammate that coined the affectionate nickname for a then 22-year-old Clarke.

Michael Clarke Career Stats

Michael Clarke competed in a total of 244 ODIs, making 7,907 runs at an average of 44.42 with 8 centuries and 58 half-centuries. He captained his country in 73 matches, 49 of which Australia won. In addition, Clarke played in 115 Test matches and made 8,643 runs at an average of 49.10 with 28 centuries and 27 half-centuries.

Clarke is the joint-most recipient of the prestigious Allan Border Medal along with Ricky Ponting, having won it four times, in 2005, 2009 (jointly with Ricky Ponting), 2012 and 2013.

For his performances in 2012, he was named as captain of the World Test XI and ODI XI by the ICC. He was also named in the World Test XI by the ICC in 2013.

Catching Up

Michael Clarke, distinguished as the face of Ben Martin vodka, marked Easter with a heartwarming brunch surrounded by both his immediate and extended family. He stated that he enjoyed creating cherished memories and strengthening familial bonds. Beyond his role in the world of sports, Clarke is renowned for his passionate advocacy against suicide, advocating strongly for the preservation of life. Firmly believing in the power of taking a step back and reassessing one’s circumstances, he emphasizes the importance of breaking free from the shackles of suicidal thoughts.

Tributes

In tribute to those lost, Clarke dedicated himself to the annual push-up challenge. He completed an impressive 3,139 push-ups in honour of the 3,139 lives tragically lost to suicide in 2023. Partnering with organisations like the Humpty Dumpty Foundation and the Loyalty Foundation, Clarke will continue to raise awareness about mental health issues.

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Amidst moments of reflection, Clarke expressed his sorrow over the passing of two significant figures in his life, Queen Elizabeth II and his granddad. He shared a heartfelt tribute to the late Queen, accompanied by a poignant photograph capturing their ceremonial handshake. Sadly, he mourned the loss of his beloved grandfather, honouring his memory with fond remembrance and deep sentiment.

Order of Australia recipient Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the June 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Clarke was honoured for his outstanding contributions to the sport of cricket and “for distinguished service to cricket as a player at the national and international level, through leadership roles, and to the community.”

What is Michael Clarke doing now?

Michael Clarke currently splits his time between his business ventures, family life, and punditry as a co-host on the Big Sports Breakfast radio show.

Despite plenty of media speculation indicating that Clarke would return to the crease in 2018, the former captain confirmed that he would stay retired for the foreseeable future, stating at the time via Twitter:

“Let me make very clear that I have not sent any formal offer to [then Cricket Australia CEO] James Sutherland to come back and play cricket. I sent him a message as a friend offering to help Australian cricket in ANY way I could (this could mean mentoring the under 14s).”

What is Michael Clarke like off the field?

Michael Clarke has undergone intense scrutiny as a player and a person both throughout his career and after his retirement. Having accumulated plenty of media attention due to being thrusted into the spotlight from a young age, Clarke has had to reckon with a substantial amount of coverage his teammates were not treated to. As a result, he has a dislike for how the media has sensationalised his life and career, and how that has subsequently affected his relationships. 

Clarke has faced his own significant struggles off the field, but was particularly affected by the passing of his close friend Philip Hughes in 2014. Hughes died unexpectedly as a result of being hit in the neck by a short-pitched delivery during a Sheffield Shield match. Clarke was left devastated by the incident and delivered an emotional speech at his funeral. He also requested that Cricket Australia retire Hughes’ shirt number, 64, which they accepted. 

As an ambassador of Life Education Australia, Cancer Council, Loyal Foundation, and the McGrath Foundation, Clarke has helped to raise millions of dollars for their respective causes.

Michael Clarke, Entrepreneur 

Michael Clarke is most famous for his career as a cricketer for the Australian Cricket team, but he has used his post-playing career to expand his entrepreneurial focus.

Upon witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by asthma sufferers through his daughter, Clarke became committed to finding a cure for his daughter’s ailment and decided to invest in a company that makes asthma identification tools, stating in 2019: “One day, I met Vaani who was part of a start-up firm named Respirin. She came up with a device named Vijing, which is effective in the cure of asthma.”

As reported in CEO Magazine in November 2021, Clarke had entered into a partnership with Australian Boutique Spirits (ABS), a family-owned Western Sydney based distillery looking to fill a gap in the market with their direct-to-consumer platform, Bevmart. The strategic partnership materialised with Clarke due to his own ties to the West Sydney region.

Clarke’s Family

Furthermore, Clarke demonstrates a profound investment in the well-being and happiness of his children, actively engaging in various activities to foster strong family connections. Whether it’s embarking on biking adventures with his son or enjoying cherished daddy-daughter dates, Clarke exemplifies the importance of nurturing relationships within the family unit, imparting love, support, and joy in every moment shared.

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Who was Michael Clarke married to?

Michael Clarke was previously married to business owner and model Kyly Clarke for seven years, with the couple welcoming a daughter, Kelsey Lee, during their time together. 

Their separation was confirmed in 2020 when the couple released a joint statement clarifying the reason behind their “difficult decision”, writing: “With the greatest of respect for each other, we’ve come to the mutual conclusion that this is the best course for us to take while committed to the co-parenting of our daughter.”

Who is Michael Clarke dating?

Famously, Michael Clarke was engaged to model Lara Bingle from 2008 until their separation in 2010. The couple’s relationship was the subject of endless media focus that was due in no small part to their large profiles in the public eye at the time. 

Clarke dated fashion business owner Pip Edwards following the separation of his marriage to Kyly Clarke, but their relationship ended in early 2021.

Recently, Clarke dated TV personality Karl Stefanovic’s sister-in-law, Jade Yarbrough, but was filmed in a verbal fracas where Yarbrough accused the former cricketer of cheating on her with his previous girlfriend, Pip Edwards, during an evening outing in Noosa, Queensland. The situation caused Clarke to apologise, stating: “I’m absolutely gutted I’ve put people I hold in the highest regard in this position”.

The Daily Telegraph reported in late April that Clarke was “spending time” with socialite Rique Miroshnik following his breakup with Yarbrough. 

Most recently Michael is said to be dating Rique Miroshnik.

Michael Clarke style

Michael Clarke revealed in a 2022 Q&A with Sydney Morning Herald that his personal style was “sporty… a combination of sports labels and designer stuff.” 

In speaking about his personal favourite era of fashion, Clarke reiterated the significance of modern fashion where rules and tradition are constantly being broken, stating: “It’s now – because the sports trend has become acceptable everywhere. Gone are the days when you can’t wear trainers or shorts into a restaurant. You can now and I love that.”

However, his undying love for the sport he made his name in has not been lost on the former Australian Cricket captain, with Clarke confirming that his favourite childhood outfit was (and still is) his “cricket whites”.

What is Michael Clarke’s net worth?

Former Australian Cricket captain Michael Clarke’s estimated net worth is believed to be $22 million AUD.