After Michael Clarke’s shirtless public stoush with Today show host Karl Stefanovic made national headlines on Wednesday, a date has been set for the embattled former cricketer to address the saga.
The ex-Test captain was back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after he was slapped across the face by girlfriend Jade Yarbrough and accused of cheating – which he denies – in a clash caught on camera in a Noosa park.
A spokesman for Tabcorp, the company that owns Sky Sports Radio, producers of the Big Sports Breakfast show that Clarke hosts alongside Laurie Daley and Gerard Middleton, told news.com.au “the company doesn’t comment on the personal matters of its employees”.
It is understood that Clarke will be back on air when the Big Sports Breakfast returns on Monday the 23rd of January, and that it is likely he will address the matter on air.
The fracas saw Clarke accused of cheating on Yarbrough with his ex, fashion entrepreneur Pip Edwards.
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It’s understood Edwards and Yarbrough had been in contact, sparking the Queensland confrontation which saw Yarbrough’s brother-in-law, Today show host Karl Stefanovic, get involved.
Stefanovic remained quiet on the matter during Thursday morning’s Today Show program.
Edwards, who dated Clarke from mid-2020 to late 2021, condemned her ex’s actions in a statement, saying “I was blatantly lied to.”
“Michael in his true nature has not taken responsibility for his actions,” she said.
It is not the first time Clarke’s love life has played out in the media.
Clarke was previously engaged to supermodel Lara Bingle, famous for appearing in the 2006 Tourism Australia campaign “So where the bloody hell are you?”.
In 2009, trying to get home to Bingle, Clarke allegedly tried to rush through team celebrations after a Sydney victory over South Africa, resulting in an irate Simon Katich allegedly grabbing Clarke by the throat and having to be separated.
Clarke told News Corp on Wednesday night: “I accept full responsibility for this altercation and am shattered by my actions.”
The screaming match took place in front of multiple people in a park, and was so confronting that an onlooker could be heard yelling “there’s children over there” as they encouraged the group to take the fight elsewhere.
Clarke represented Australia in 115 Test matches and 245 ODIs after making his international debut in 2003.
The right-hander scored 8643 Test runs, including 28 centuries and a career-best 329 not out against India at the SCG in 2012.
He captained Australia to their 2013/14 Ashes whitewash and 2015 World Cup victory.
