Michael Clarke pulls out of SAS Australia season 3

Former Aussie cricket captain Michael Clarke has pulled out of the next season of SAS Australia after earlier signing a contract to compete on the gruelling reality show. Here’s why.

Former Aussie cricket captain Michael Clarke has pulled out of the next season of SAS Australia after signing a contract to compete on the gruelling reality show.

The cricket great is understood to have notified Channel 7 he would not be competing, the day after Monday’s season two premiere.

Michael Clarke and daughter Kelsey Lee pick up some fruit and veggies from a local store in Sydney’s east on Thursday. Picture: MATRIXNEWS

Clarke, 40, has been photographed over recent weeks out and about in exercise clothing with rumoured on-again, off-again girlfriend Pip Edwards and was snapped diving off his boat on Sydney Harbour two days prior to pulling out of SAS Australia.

He is believed to have cited a flared-up back injury that occurred during recent training for the show as his reason for backing out of the show and is understood to have made the decision under the advice of his doctor and physiotherapist.

Michael Clarke has been out and about exercising with former girlfriend Pip Edwards. Picture: David Swift

Clarke is known to have suffered chronic back pain through much of his cricket career.

Season three of SAS Australia is scheduled to start filming over the next few weeks, with Willie Mason also tipped to be a contestant.
The Daily Telegraph understands Clarke initially agreed to sign up to the reality show, with a rumoured asking price of about $750,000.

SAS Australia is one of the top shows on TV and sees celebrities put through their paces in a rigorous special forces selection course overseen by ex-British soldiers Ant Middleton, Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham, Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox and Ollie Ollerton.

Among those competing this season are Jana Pittman, Alicia Molik, Kerri Pottharst, Isabelle Cornish, Jessica Peris, Jett Kenny, John Steffensen, Mark Phillippoussis, Sam Burgess and Pete Murray.

While unashamedly a brutal reality TV experience, the Telegraph understands celebrities, including sports men and women, actors and musicians, have been clamouring to score a spot on the show.

A high profile replacement for Clarke is believed to have already been locked in and casting is now complete for the third season that will air in 2022.

Originally published as Michael Clarke pulls out of SAS Australia season 3