The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
Cricket playboy Michael Clarke’s row with his girlfriend and famous pals has cost the former captain a lucrative $150,000 commentary gig in India.
The 41-year-old was filmed by a bystander in an explosive altercation at Noosa in Queensland while on holiday with girlfriend Jade Yarbrough, her sister Jasmine and her husband and media personality Karl Stefanovic, sending the entire country into a spin.
Australia is scheduled to play India in a four-Test series starting on February 9 and Clarke was expected to fly out to be part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) commentary panel that would be heard on Fox Sports.
Michael Clarke and girlfriend Jade Yarbrough got into a heated row, with Clarke since losing a lucrative skin care partnership and his $150,000 commentary gig
But the notoriously image-conscious BCCI has, according to The Age, decided that the playboy’s reputation doesn’t suit their standards for a contract that’s believed to be worth around $150,000 plus expenses.
Multiple anonymous sources told the publication that they are seeking other players to fill the spot alongside fellow Aussie cricket legend Matthew Hayden, with four Tests and three ODI matches to cover between February 9 to March 13 before the IPL then kicks off.
The game’s governing body in India – easily the most powerful in the world – continues to refuse to comment on the issue but it now appears a fait accompli that Fox Sports viewers won’t have to hear his much-maligned commentary.
Michael Clarke’s role in the fracas has seen the notoriously image conscious BCCI replace him as commentator
That being said, he still has the opportunity to secure himself another commentary gig – and has already fielded an offer, albeit a much smaller one.
‘I’ve just been asked to commentate on the PSL, the Pakistan Premier League, and you should see the internationals they’ve got,’ Clarke said his The Big Sports Breakfast radio program as he made quite the marketing pitch for the league.
‘So many overseas players are going and playing in that tournament.’
Clarke didn’t mention his India gig on his radio program – a huge hint that he is aware the the now infamous fight has cost him a very lucrative gig with the most powerful cricket body on the planet.
The fight footage showed Yarbrough screaming at Clarke, slapping him in the face and accusing him of allegedly cheating on her with his former partner, high-profile fashion designer Pip Edwards.
In the footage Jade Yarbrough (right) can be seen slapping Clarke as he insists the allegations are not true before turning on Karl Stefanovic in a foul-mouthed tirade
‘You want to send her to India with you?’ Yarbrough yells in the video.
‘You’re the love of my life Pip, come with me to India.’
Clarke insisted he was innocent in the footage and swore on his daughter Kelsey’s life before lashing out at Stefanovic with a flurry of swear words.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Clarke’s prospective sponsorship deal with a skincare brand has already been terminated – and more could follow in the wake of the scandal.
Michael Clarke’s roles and lucrative gigs are dropping like flies. His partnership with luxury watch manufacturer Hublot is, so far, continuing
The notorious playboy has since apologised for his role in the Noosa altercation, telling the Daily Telegraph he accepted full responsibility for the incident and was shattered by his actions.
‘I’m absolutely gutted I’ve put people I hold in the highest regard in this position,’ he said, not admitting to cheating, but apologising for his role in the fracas.
‘My actions in the lead-up to this altercation were nothing short of shameful and regrettable. I own this fully and am the only one at fault.’
The divorced father-of-one will continue working on his daily radio program, but faces a fight to make up for the hundreds of thousands of dollars the diabolical fight has already cost him.
