- Clarke and ex Kyly share daughter Kelsey Lee
Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has revealed why he will never discuss cricket with his daughter Kelsey Lee – and why he has no desire to return to the sport which made him a global star.
Clarke, 44, co-parents his nine-year-old with ex-wife Kyly and admits often being overseas for work comes with its challenges.
FaceTime has proven to be invaluable when Clarke is abroad, but when he is in Sydney, Kelsey Lee is front and centre in his life.
‘It is the only thing I hate about my job, to be honest. At the moment I’m travelling nearly as much now as I was when I was playing,’ he told News Corp.
‘Any sort of TV work or commentary I’m doing, I’m overseas. I’ve just come back from London and Sardinia… that’s the thing I don’t like about it. It takes me away from her and that is hard.
‘But as Kels knows, daddy’s got to work, we’ve got bills to pay. It is about trying to find the (right) balance.’
Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has revealed why he never discusses cricket with his daughter Kelsey Lee (pictured) – and also why he won’t ever join the Legends League
FaceTime has proven to be invaluable when Clarke is abroad – and when he is in Sydney, Kelsey Lee is front and centre in his life
Clarke, 44, co-parents his nine-year-old with ex-wife Kyly Boldy – the couple divorced in 2020
Clarke made his first-class debut for NSW at just 17, and his Test debut in 2004, scoring a century against India, before captaining Australia from 2011 to 2015
Clarke loves the fact his daughter is athletic – but don’t expect to see him push her into wearing cricket whites anytime soon.
And unless she looks up her famous father on Google or YouTube, she won’t see him out in the middle.
The man affectionately known as ‘Pup’ also has no interest in the Legends League circuit, with his focus being a hands-on father.
In August, Clarke had another skin cancer removed.
He took to Instagram to share an update with his followers before reminding them to get their skin checked.
‘Another day, another skin cancer removed,’ he wrote over a black and white picture, which showed him sitting in an office with a plaster on his nose.
He also admitted his numerous skin cancer scares left him fearful he might not be around long-term for Kelsey Lee.
Clarke underwent surgery in March 2022 to have a skin cancer removed from his forehead, which followed an initial diagnosis in 2006.
The elegant batsman made his first-class debut for NSW at just 17, and his Test debut in 2004, scoring a century against India, before captaining Australia from 2011 to 2015.
Under his leadership, Australia won the 2015 ODI Cricket World Cup and regained the Ashes in 2013–14 following a 5-0 whitewash against England.
At his peak, Clarke was celebrated for his ability to perform under pressure, amassing over 8000 Test runs, including a remarkable year in 2012 with four double centuries.
He retired from international cricket in 2015, leaving a legacy as one of Australia’s finest modern-era captains.
