Michael Clarke’s timeline of TV spurns and business fails
2018 started with Michael Clarke being scammed by a fake cancer patient and by October, the retired cricketer’s media opportunities and business affiliations were drying up locally. Here’s a timeline of how his year has played out.
Insider
Don't miss out on the headlines from Insider. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Michael Clarke’s final indignity after Nine’s sacking
- Fatty Vautin finally getting respect he deserves
2018 started with Michael Clarke being scammed by a fake cancer patient and by October, the retired cricketer’s media opportunities and business affiliations were drying up locally. Here’s a timeline of how his year has played out.
JANUARY: Following the arrest of fake cancer patient Melissa Quinn, a northern NSW mum who once worked for Cricket NSW, it emerges Clarke and two other cricketers were scammed into donating cricket merchandise to Quinn. She faced court over a $45,000 scam, pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced to two years in jail. She has appealed the sentence on psychiatric grounds.
FEBRUARY: Clarke posts this image on social media of daughter Kelsey Lee in hospital (right), his forlorn-looking wife Kyly at the little girl’s side. She is, he says: “One very sick little girl.”
MARCH: In the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, Clarke states he would “think about” coming out of retirement to replace a disgraced Steve Smith as captain of the Australian cricket team if asked by the “right people”. Two weeks later he confirms he has made the offer of “help” to Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland.
APRIL: Cricket Australia sells rights to cricket coverage to Fox Sports and Channel 7, leaving Clarke and Nine’s incumbent commentators facing an uncertain future.
MAY:Spartan Sporting Goods, Clarke’s cricket bat sponsor since 2012, is put into liquidation by creditors, owing $8.5 million. Director Kunal Sharma, who Clarke calls a “friend”, resigns as director of Spartan Sports Brands on May 14. Spartan contract rumoured to be worth $500,000 a year to Clarke.
JUNE: Fox Sports, Channel 7 and radio networks continue finalising their cricket commentary teams for the upcoming summer.
JULY: Clarke confirms he hasn’t been approached by either Fox Sports or Seven. Fox ends up signing 30 commentators, and Seven signs up 18.
“I am still on contract with Nine,” Clarke tells media.
“I still have some other business that I am sinking my teeth into …”
AUGUST: Clarke puts his name to Queensland cryptocurrency business Global Tech and is widely ridiculed.
SEPTEMBER: Clarke’s $300,000-a-year contract with Nine ends. He’s dumped. Radio broadcasters Macquarie, ABC, SEN finalise cricket commentary teams. Clarke is overlooked.
OCTOBER: Global Tech shuts down amid ASIC investigation. In addition, it emerges that Crown Resorts has dropped Clarke from his $500,000-a-year contract.