Net Worth: C. $22 Million
Age: 42
DOB: 2 April 1981
Birthplace: Liverpool, Western Sydney, Australia
Michael Clarke is a former Australian cricketer who captained the national team in all formats of the men’s game. This included stints as skipper of the T20 side between 2007 – 2010 and the test and ODI sidesduring the period of 2011 – 2015.
Over the course of his career he won several ICC titles with Australia including Cricket World Cup successes in 2007 and 2015 and taking out the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006. He was also known for being a dynamic middle order batsman who hit a highest test score of 329 not out against India at the SCG and with his left arm spin took the remarkable career high figures of 6-9 against the same opponents in Mumbai.
Nicknamed ‘Pup’ by his teammates, Clarke also represented New South Wales domestically. He won the Allan Border Medal on four different occasions and was named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2010.
After the last test of the 2015 Ashes series he retired from first class cricket with a sizeable net worth.
Early Life and Career
Clarke was born and spent most of his youth in the Western Sydney suburb of Liverpool. As a child he attended Marsden Road Public School, but when he was not studying he would spend much of his free time honing his batting skills at his dad’s cricket indoor centre, also in Liverpool. At a young age, he joined the Western Suburbs District Cricket Club.
Clarke made his debut at the first-class level for New South Wales when he was just seventeen year old in a match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground in December 1999. Around the same time, three degenerative discs were discovered in scans on his lower back. This condition would limit the fluid movement of his back throughout his cricketing career. To alleviate this problem, Clarke underwent core strengthening exercises.
This hard physical work paid off as he was a recipient of an Australian Institute of Sport Academy Cricket scholarship in 1999. Later in 2002, Clarke played for Ramsbottom Cricket Club in English club cricket. He enjoyed a successful stint there, notably becaming the first player in the history of the Lancashire League to hit a double century.
International Debuts
Clarke made his first international appearance for Australia in 2003 in a One Day International at the Adelaide Oval against England. The following year he made his test debut against India at Bangalore.
In just his second test match, he hit a composed century, displaying a remarkable level of maturity and elegant strokeplay which soon saw him develop a reputation for being an excellent player of spin. These traits quickly made him an integral part of the Australian team across all formats of the game. In particular, he formed formidable partnerships with the likes of Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn in the middle order.
Captaincy
Clarke’s captaincy skills were first put to the test when he was appointed as the vice-captain of the Australian team in 2007. In 2011, he took over the captaincy from Ricky Ponting in ODIs and T20Is. The following year, Clarke assumed the leadership role in Test cricket as well. Under his captaincy, Australia witnessed a transition phase as several experienced players retired, and Clarke took on the responsibility of rebuilding the team.
One of the defining moments of Clarke’s captaincy came in the 2013-2014 Ashes series, where Australia comprehensively defeated England. Clarke’s tactical acumen, combined with his prolific batting, played a crucial role in Australia regaining the Ashes. His aggressive captaincy style, willingness to take risks and ability to motivate the team earned him praise from cricket pundits and Australian fans.
Clarke’s batting performances as captain were exemplary, and he reached the pinnacle of his career in 2012 when he scored 329 not out against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This innings not only showcased his immense skill but also solidified his place among Australia’s cricketing fraternity. Throughout his captaincy tenure, Clarke led by example with the bat, often contributing crucial runs for his team when they found themselves in trouble.
Challenges
Despite his success as a captain and batsman, Clarke faced challenges, both on and off the field. Injuries plagued his later years and he had to contend with the pressures of leadership and intense media scrutiny in a period of transition for Australian cricket. Off the field, his personal life, including his relationship with model Lara Bingle, garnered significant tabloid attention too.
In 2015, after Australia’s unsuccessful campaign in the Ashes series in England, Clarke announced his retirement from international cricket. His departure marked the end of an era for Australian cricket, as one of their most influential leaders stepped down. Clarke finished his Test career with 8,643 runs at an average of 49.10, including 28 centuries. He also took 31 wickets at an average of 38.19.
Indian Premier League
As well as being paid handsomely to represent the national team, Clarke generated a decent income from two stints in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He made his IPL debut in the inaugural season of the league in 2008, representing the Rajasthan Royals, which was owned and led by Shane Warne. The Royals took out the first title, with Clarke playing a vital role in the team’s success scoring 245 runs in seven matches at an average of over 40.
Clarke’s national team commitments and injuries limited his IPL participation. However, he did play a season in 2012 for the Pune Warriors as their captain.
Personal Life
Clarke is currently dating Jade Yarbrough, whose brother-in-law is the TV personality Karl Stefanovic. He has previously been in a high profile relationship with Lara Bingle and dated Pip Edwards, a Sydney fashion business owner. He was married to Kyly Boldy, whom he went to school with and has one daughter.
In 2016, Clarke’s autobiography, ‘My Story’ was published. He also started a career as a cricket commentator, initially for Nine’s Wide World of Sports. In 2020, he became the co-host of the Big Sports Breakfast radio show.
Unfortunately, Clarke required a procedure to remove skin cancer from his forehead in September 2019. (He had previously been diagnosed with it in 2006 and in 2010 took up a role as ambassador for the Cancer Council
In the Queen’s Birthday Honours list of June 2020, Clarke received the title of Officer of the Order of Australia.