In a stunning move, former Australian Test captain Michael Clarke has announced that he’s leaving his popular breakfast radio show, Sky Racing’s Big Sports Breakfast, after five years.
The show, which he co-hosted with NRL great Laurie Daley and Gerard Middleton, has been a staple of morning radio for sports fans.
A New Chapter for Clarke
Since retiring from cricket, Clarke has been keeping busy with various projects, including commentating on games and launching his own podcast, Beyond23.
However, it seems that his passion for podcasting has taken center stage, and he’s decided to focus on it full-time.
“It’s the right time for me to turn my focus to a passion I started last year and have continued through the summer break in my podcast,” Clarke said.
The Reason Behind His Exit
Clarke cited the difficulty of balancing his overseas work and radio commitments as a major factor in his decision.
With his commentating work taking him around the world, he found it challenging to be in two places at once.
“I also found it quite difficult last year trying to be in two places at once with my overseas work and radio, and it looks like I will be spending more time away for business moving forward,” he explained.
A Farewell Message to Fans
Clarke took the opportunity to thank his loyal listeners and express his gratitude for the support they’ve shown him during his time on the show.
“To the listeners, I can’t thank you enough for having me. I enjoyed our banter and I really hope you got to know me a little more than you might have watching me play cricket from a distance,” he said.
What’s Next for Big Sports Breakfast?
Daley and Middleton will return to the show on Thursday, with Clarke expected to make a special appearance to bid farewell to his fans.
The news comes just a week after Clarke was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, a testament to his illustrious cricket career.
A Legendary Career
Clarke’s cricket career was nothing short of remarkable, with 8643 runs in 115 Tests and a stint as captain from 2011 to 2015.
He’s widely regarded as one of Australia’s best-ever batsmen, and his induction into the Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of his achievements.
As Hall of Fame committee chairman Peter King said, “Michael was an exceptional leader of our men’s Test and ODI teams who had a sustained period of success under his captaincy.”