Cricket legend Michael Clarke quits breakfast radio to pursue ‘new passion’

Cricket legend Michael Clarke has stunned fans by sensationally quitting his breakfast radio gig to put his time into a new passion.

Michael Clarke has stunned the broadcasting world by sensationally quitting breakfast radio.

The former Test captain has remained busy since retiring from cricket, from commentating on games to hosting a radio show and launching a new podcast.

But arguably his main role has been on the popular morning radio program Sky Racing’s Big Sports Breakfast, which he has been the regular host of for five years alongside NRL great Laurie Daley and Gerard Middleton.

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But on Tuesday, Clarke revealed he would not be returning in 2025.

With his new podcast taking off and commentating commitments taking him around the world, Clarke said he needed to focus on his ‘passion’.

Michael Clarke (middle) with Big Sports Breakfast radio team members Laurie Daley (left) and Gerard Middleton (right). Image: Instagram

“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 (Beyond23),” Clarke told The Daily Telegraph.

“I want to commit 100 per cent and give it everything I have.

“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.

“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.”

Daley and Middleton will return to Big Sports Breakfast on Thursday, with Clarke expected to feature to bid farewell to the listeners.

The news comes just one week after Clarke became the 64th inductee to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

The 43-year-old had an illustrious cricket career, making 8643 runs in playing 115 Tests.

He succeeded Ricky Ponting as captain in 2011 and retired from the sport in 2015.

Michael Clarke is widely regarded as one of Australia’s best ever batsmen (Photo by Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)

“In selecting Michael as one of the three Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inductees for this season, the selection committee was met with statistics of a player who defined his generation and at his peak was ranked the best Test batter in the world,” Hall of Fame committee chairman Peter King said.

“More than that, Michael was an exceptional leader of our men’s Test and ODI teams who had a sustained period of success under his captaincy.

“Michael’s career will forever be remembered fondly by the Australian public and his standing held alongside those at the upper echelon of our game. On behalf of the selection committee, we congratulate Michael on his very deserved induction into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.”

Originally published as Cricket legend Michael Clarke quits breakfast radio to pursue ‘new passion’