Their tumultuous engagement ended a decade ago, but it seems Michael Clarke still can’t stop talking about Lara Bingle.
The 39-year-old retired cricketer discussed Lara’s infamous ‘diamond ring in the toilet incident’ on his Big Sports Breakfast radio show last week, and on Monday couldn’t help but return to the topic of his ex-fiancée.
During the show, Michael recalled his famous 2009 showdown with teammate Simon Katich, who had famously accused him of trying to leave post-game celebrations to see Lara, now 32.
A trip down memory lane! Photos from Michael Clarke and Lara Bingle’s tumultuous relationship resurface – after the retired cricketer made another reference to his ex-fiancée on Big Sports Breakfast radio this week. Pictured in October 2009
Lara, a stunning bikini model, and Michael, a talented batsman, were once once considered the ‘Posh and Becks’ of Australia.
They began dating in 2007, after meeting on the set of Channel Nine’s now-defunct reality TV show, Torvill and Dean’s Dancing on Ice.
In March the following year, the glamour couple became engaged during a romantic trip to New York.
Young love! They began dating in 2007, after meeting on the set of Channel Nine’s now-defunct reality TV show, Torvill and Dean’s Dancing on Ice. Pictured in February 2007
Iconic couple: Lara, a stunning bikini model, and Michael, a talented batsman, were once once considered the ‘Posh and Becks’ of Australia. Pictured in 2007
Upon returning to Australia, the lovebirds celebrated their engagement with 300 of their closest friends and family at a function centre at Sydney’s Luna Park.
During their relationship, the smitten cricketer had the model’s initials tattooed on his shoulder and spoiled her with gifts such as a $300,000 Aston Martin.
In April 2008, Michael made international headlines when he was spotted pushing Lara’s car 100m down the road after it ran out of fuel in Cronulla, Sydney.
Engagement bliss! The glamour couple became engaged during a romantic trip to New York in March 2008, just months after they met. Pictured in July 2008
Happy days! Upon returning to Australia, the lovebirds celebrated their engagement with 300 of their closest friends and family at a function centre at Sydney’s Luna Park. Pictured at the Allan Border Medal in February 2008
‘He didn’t seem happy, he seemed a little bit rushed. It was a funny sight to see,’ a witness told News Corp at the time.
Michael and Lara’s car dramas weren’t over, however.
In December 2009, Lara’s Aston Martin was stolen from the couple’s Bondi Beach home.
Cosy couple: During their engagement, the pair lived together in a lavish Bondi apartment and were often spotted walking their dogs around Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs. Pictured in May, 2009
Mixing business with pleasure! In October 2009, the couple posed together as part of an advertising campaign for an energy drink
Thankfully, the luxury vehicle was found two days later with only minor damage.
In March 2010, Michael famously left his teammates midway through a New Zealand tour to return to Australia for ‘personal reasons.’
In a late night press conference two days later, he confirmed that his two-year engagement to the former Tourism Australia spokesmodel was over.
Their split came just months after a photo of Lara in the shower taken by AFL star Brendan Fevola was publicly leaked and went viral.
Everything OK? Michael and Lara were photographed looking rather tense on the streets of Sydney in October 2009
It’s over! Michael confirmed that his two-year engagement to the former Tourism Australia spokesmodel was over during a late-night press conference in March 2010. Pictured at the Allan Border Medal in February 2009
Following their split, there were then highly-publicised rumours that Lara’s $200,000 engagement ring was flushed down the toilet in their $6million Bondi beachside pad.
Plumbers even appeared at the complex, but it was unclear whether they were just trying to hijack a saucy media story with a canny marketing stunt.
Michael finally addressed the rumours six years later in a tell-all interview with 60 Minutes, describing them as ‘complete made-up 100 percent bulls**t!’
‘I’d like to say I’m a very silly man. But I’m not that silly. I’m not throwing any diamond ring down a toilet,’ he said in 2016.
Lara’s ring riddle: There were then highly-publicised rumours that Lara’s $200,000 engagement ring (pictured) was flushed down the toilet in their Bondi beachside pad. Michael has since called these claims ‘100 percent bulls**t’
Not happy! Lara was pictured giving the thumbs up to media outside her Bondi apartment in March 2010, as news of her split from Michael made global headlines
During the interview, Michael admitted he found himself ‘hiding from the media crews parked outside his home’ after the split.
‘There were cameras 24/7 so I ended up hiding in the boot of a mate’s car,’ he revealed.
Michael and Lara’s Bondi apartment became the centre of headlines in May 2017, when celebrity accountant Anthony Bell moved in, amid his messy marriage breakdown with Kelly Landry.
New beginnings: After splitting from Lara Michael went on to marry his now ex-wife Kyly (left), 38, in May 2012. Pictured at the Allan Border Medal in 2013
After splitting from Lara Michael went on to marry his now ex-wife Kyly Boldy (née Clarke), 38.
The couple wed in May 2012 during a fairytale ceremony in New South Wales’ picturesque Blue Mountains.
They welcomed their only child, a daughter named Kelsey Lee, in 2015.
Baby joy! They welcomed their only child, a daughter named Kelsey Lee, in 2015 (all pictured)
Meanwhile, in February 2014, Lara was famously seen sizing up Kyly in a magazine while she indulged in a manicure in Sydney.
Lara was looking at a round-up of the fashion at the recent Allan Border Medal Awards – an event Lara previously attended on the arm of her ex Michael.
Kyly, who was then known as Australia’s Queen of the WAGs, was the feature of the spread, and was pictured looking glamorous in an over-the-top blue sequined dress.
Sizing up the ex’s new squeeze! Lara Bingle was seen casting her eye over her ex-fiance Michael’s wife Kyly as she read a magazine during a manicure in February 2014
Kyly and Michael split in September 2019 after seven years of marriage, but did not announce their break-up until five months later in February.
They are in the midst of a divorce estimated to be worth $40million but remain on friendly terms.
In a joint statement in February, the Clarkes said the split was ‘amicable’ decision and ‘the best course’ for their daughter.
Spitsville: Kyly and Michael split in September 2019 after seven years of marriage, but did not announce their break-up until five months later in February. Pictured in September 2014
The news came as a surprise to many, as Kyly had told Daily Mail Australia in January 2019: ‘We’re not, never were and never will be splitting.’
Just hours after announcing his divorce from Kyly, Michael sold the Bondi apartment he once shared with Lara for a figure ‘in the low $7 millions’.
Over the years, Lara and Michael have spoken at length to the media about their doomed engagement.
End of an era: Just hours after announcing his divorce from Kyly, Michael sold the Bondi apartment he once shared with Lara (pictured) for a figure ‘in the low $7 millions’
In October 2013, Lara reflected on their romance in an interview with news.com.au, telling the publication that leaving him was ‘the best thing she ever did’.
‘I got to experience all these opportunities. Otherwise, I would have three children by now. I felt like I was living in his dream,’ she said.
Kyly promptly hit back, saying anything Lara said about her husband was ‘water off a duck’s back’ and said she shouldn’t use the media as a forum to talk about herself.
Ouch: In October 2013, Lara reflected on their romance in an interview with news.com.au , telling the publication that leaving him was ‘the best thing she ever did’. Pictured at the Allan Border Medal in February 2010
Meanwhile, in October 2016, Michael spoke about his time with Lara after his autobiography My Story carried pictures of him with his former flame.
Speaking on KIIS FM, Michael said he felt compelled to include his high profile relationship with the model in the memoir.
‘It’s part of my life,’ he responded when presenter Kyle Sandilands probed him about Lara’s inclusion.
Nothing to hide: Speaking to KIIS FM’s Kyle And Jackie O Show in October 2016, the father-of-one insisted that Kyly was ‘pretty cool’ about him publicly discussing his ex
‘If I didn’t talk about it somebody else would and write about it.’
During the same interview, Michael insisted that Kyly was ‘pretty cool’ about him publicly discussing his ex, explaining: ‘She understands everyone’s got a history and everyone’s got a past. It’s been in the media so long.’
‘We’ve moved on. I’m married and I’ve got a daughter,’ the retired sportsman added.
After splitting from Michael, Lara went on to start a relationship with Australian actor Sam Worthington, 43.
Hollywood star husband: After splitting from Michael, Lara went on to start a relationship with Australian actor Sam Worthington, 43 (left). Pictured in November 2018
The couple confirmed their relationship in October 2013, before relocating from Sydney to New York in 2014.
In December 2014 they wed during a private ceremony in Melbourne.
Lara later confirmed she was six months pregnant when they tied the knot.
Wedding bells: The couple confirmed their relationship in October 2013, before relocating from Sydney to New York in 2014
The couple were in Los Angeles when they welcomed their first child, a son named Rocket Zot, in March 2015.
They welcomed their second son, Racer, in October 2016.
A month later, Michael told the media that he had ‘no idea’ that Lara had given birth to her second child.
‘Did she? Oh I didn’t know,’ he told Yahoo when quizzed on the big news at Hublot’s All Black event.
‘Did she?’ In November 2016, Michael told the media that he had ‘no idea’ that Lara had given birth to her second child
Michael asked if he still kept in contact with his ex, to which he replied: ‘Not at all, no.’
Lara, who is currently pregnant with Sam’s third child, has enjoyed a fruitful and varied career since splitting from Michael.
She tried her hand at a career in reality TV in 2012 by starring in the ill-fated show Being Lara Bingle, before going on to launch a self-tanning and cosmetics range called The Base in 2014.
In 2018, Lara rebranded The Base as a non-for-profit organisation called Share The Base, following rumours the company would be shutting down after an online fire sale.
New career direction: Lara, who is currently pregnant with Sam’s third child, has enjoyed a fruitful and varied career since splitting from Michael – including launching a self-tanning and cosmetics range called The Base in 2014