IT’S ALL TOO MUCH!
Juggling family life with her new TV role and a husband with too much time on his hands is proving tough for the Aussie WAG
Cricket WAG Kyly Clarke has scored the role of a lifetime as a judge on Seven’s new-look House Rules. And while the 38-year-old interior designer is thrilled to be bringing her expertise to the show, friends say her new role has opened a string of marital wounds with her former Australian cricket captain husband Michael Clarke.
“Kyly is feeling the pressure financially because she has had to step up and be the main breadwinner in the family, while Michael tries to secure a regular media job or even a coaching role,” one insider tells Woman’s Day, adding the sports star has struggled to land a stable job for some time.
According to the source, Michael’s main media job is a gig out of India during the Indian Premier League season, which only lasts a few weeks of the year and has a “paltry pay packet”.
“A media deal Down Under is becoming less and less likely for him – the public just don’t think he has what it takes and he was one of the most unpopular captains,” the source adds.
Indeed, Michael, 38, was left unsigned by both Foxtel and Seven, who assembled commentary teams of 27 of the greatest former cricketers and presenters.
“He’s furious about the entire situation,” says the friend, adding Michael’s high-profile spats with former cricket legends and commentators Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich have made him “considerably less appealing”.
Kyly says her appointment on House Rules is a “dream job”, but it seems the demands of reality TV are slowly becoming too much for the mother-of-one, who for years has produced her own line of lifestyle products while practising as an interior designer.
‘She’s not confident she can rely on Michael to run a house’
“She is absolutely struggling to keep up the pace with balancing her work and her role on the show,” another friend tells. “And she’s not confident she can rely on Michael to run a house.”
Already, Kyly’s new gig has seen her flown around the country for filming in Victoria, Queensland and Western Sydney. Recently she conceded she has been overwhelmed by the demands of the role with a pointed post on social media. “That moment after a 4am start and a huge day of filming,” she captioned a photo of herself looking downcast and exhausted.
While Kyly is feeling the pressure of having to make her earnings count for herself, Michael and their four-year-old daughter Kelsey Lee, friends says Michael is trying to keep himself busy by looking for new opportunities – but has so far been unsuccessful.
“He’s desperately searching for new business partnerships and attempting to cash in on his name and being the Australian cricket captain before it’s too late – but the bottom line is he’s not overly popular,” says another insider.
In a bid to contribute financially, Michael is also said to have been actively trying to sell off his three-bedroom beachfront Bondi apartment, which is worth $8 million, but has been unsuccessful.
The sports star also has a share in finance mogul Anthony Bell’s luxury yacht. And while it’s no doubt a healthy asset for the couple, the vessel is still a sore spot for Kyly.
It’s been a year since Michael and his personal assistant Sasha Armstrong were photographed soaking up the sun and getting close on the boat – and our source says their relationship is another thing causing Kyly anxiety while she’s away from home.