Michael Clarke book extract makes for sad reading after split from wife Kyly confirmed

Former Aussie cricket star Michael Clarke began his relationship with Kyly Boldy with a crippling terror it wouldn’t go the distance.

Michael Clarke is living out his worst fears after it was confirmed his seven-year marriage to wife Kyly has ended.

In his 2016 autobiography My Story, the former Australian cricket captain revealed the commitment issues he dealt with after the divorce of his own parents, Les and Debbie.

Clarke wrote how Les, while battling prostate cancer, had detached himself emotionally from Debbie and after more than 25 years together they split.

“Their break-up affected me to the core,” Clarke wrote. “When I split up with my then fiancee Lara Bingle in 2010, part of the undercurrent in my thinking is that if a couple like Mum and Dad can’t make it, what hope have I got?

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“I don’t even want to start a serious relationship if it’s going to end in a separation. Mum and Dad are my heroes, and their marriage has always been a kind of gold standard for (sister) Leanne and me. I can’t imagine myself measuring up to my parents’ partnership. How can I do it, if they can’t?

“It takes me a long time to get over that fear. When Kyly Boldy and I start dating, I open up with her about it. There is a strength of love between us that helps me get over my self-doubt.”

Clarke details how the two attended the same high school, Westfield Sports High in Sydney’s west, but “didn’t have much to do with each other”.

Kyly stands by Michael as he waits for rain to clear in Adelaide. At the time he was two runs away from honouring Phil Hughes with a stirring century against India. Picture: Calum Robertson

Michael captioned this photograph of their wedding: ‘Happiest guy in the world. Married @KylyBoldy yesterday in front of our gorgeous families. Couldn't be happier!’

His first attempt to win her attention, by asking his best mate to ask for her number for him at a bar in Cronulla in 2007, fell flat and it wasn’t until after his high-profile relationship with ex-fiancee Lara Bingle fell apart the two finally connected — over Twitter while he was on tour in the West Indies.

“By that stage I was going through a rough time, and Kyly’s warmth and compassion touched me,” Clarke wrote.

“She had been brought up in a very close and loving family, and encouraged me to let my vulnerability show rather than seeking ways to cover it up.

“She and I shared fundamental values — she knew that when things were at their most difficult, the people you turned to were your family and close friends. She could see that I was needing the comfort of family, and I fell in love with her family too.

“That strong bond of unity provided an extra reinforcement for me at a time when my self-confidence was being shaken. She convinced me that I could hope for the kind of home life I wanted, that I shouldn’t give up on myself.”

Michael, Kyly and daughter Kelsey Lee at the launch of his autobiography, My Story. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Kyly and Michael at the 2012 Allan Border Medal Awards. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

The Clarkes are once again leaning on the support of family and friends after The Australian exclusively revealed they were headed for divorce.

“After living apart for some time, we have made the difficult decision to ­separate as a couple, amicably,” the statement read.

“With the greatest of respect for each other, we’ve come to the ­mutual conclusion that this is the best course for us to take while committed to the co-parenting of our daughter.”

The joint statement comes just 12 months since Kyly strongly rejected suggestions the couple’s relationship was in strife after Michael made headlines in gossip rags when he was photographed sitting on the back of a super-yacht in Sydney Harbour with his assistant Sasha Armstrong.

“We’re not, never were and never will be splitting,” Kyly told Daily Mail Australia in January, 2019.

Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke pictured on his super cruiser Ghost for a lazy afternoon on the harbour with his assistant Sasha Armstrong. Picture: Matrix