Michael Clarke kissed the Australian emblem on his helmet after scoring his century, but his thanks went to ex-fiancee Lara Bingle. Photo / Getty Images
WELLINGTON - Under-fire Australian cricketer Michael Clarke put a fortnight of turmoil behind him by scoring a century in Wellington yesterday - and promptly thanked his ex-fiancee, Lara Bingle.
Clarke, who was heavily criticised for leaving the tour to return to Sydney and break off his engagement to the "So
where the bloody hell are you?" model, banished any thought that the real-life soap opera might have been playing on his mind when he flayed New Zealand's bowlers around the Basin Reserve.
"It's a very special feeling any time you make a hundred, but it's been a tough couple of weeks and I guess the support I've had from family, friends, teammates [helped me]," Clarke said.
"I've spoken about not wanting to talk about my personal life, but the support I've had from Lara as well has been tremendous and without her and her support I certainly wouldn't have been back over here.
"To my family and friends who have supported me, and Lara, I thank them very much."
Clarke ended the day 100 not out.
Even Clarke, the Australian vice-captain, must have been surprised by the warm reception he got at the Basin.
There was the odd banner, the odd heckle and even the odd Bingle look-a-like in the crowd, but it was fairly innocuous stuff.
"I didn't really know [what to expect], to be honest," Clarke said.
"The New Zealand [players] were very respectful. There wasn't one word said about what has happened in the past two weeks.
"Obviously they played very hard, as they always do, but the crowd and the New Zealand guys have been fantastic."
Asked whether he felt any extra pressure after being media fodder over the past fortnight, Clarke again played a straight bat.
"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't read it or watched the television and the news. I've seen it, but I understand that you guys [media] have a job to do and me being a professional athlete, it's not just about what I do on the field, it's off the field as well.
"Lara's copped a lot of criticism over the last couple of weeks and it takes a very strong woman to be able to handle that.
"Like I say, it's respect to her and it's respect to my team-mates to give me the time away I needed and then the opportunity to come back and make me feel so welcome."
