He may be in the midst of a high-profile divorce worth a rumoured $40million, but Michael Clarke is still counting his blessings.
The retired Australian cricket captain, 39, revealed on Friday that he was ‘extremely lucky’ to still be good friends with his estranged wife, Kyly.
Michael, who shares four-year-old daughter Kelsey Lee with his ex, told The Kyle and Jackie O Show that his friendship with the former model, 38, ‘is as strong as it’s ever been’ despite their separation.
Friends ’til the end: Michael Clarke (right) has revealed he feels ‘extremely lucky’ to still be friends with his estranged wife, Kyly (left), despite their looming $40million divorce
The former sportsman, who is now dating fashion designer Pip Edwards, said he was still on good terms with Kyly as they continue to co-parent Kelsey Lee.
‘I think I’m extremely lucky to have been able to go through a separation with the mother of my child and us still be great friends,’ he said.
‘I actually think Kyly and my friendship now is as strong as it’s ever been. We still talk daily and I think you’ve heard Kyly say as well both of us will always prioritise our daughter and a big part of that is a friendship between mum and dad.’
Bond: Michael, who shares four-year-old daughter Kelsey Lee (pictured) with his ex, said that his friendship with the former model, 38, ‘is as strong as it’s ever been’ despite their separation
Michael explained that even when Kelsey Lee is in his care, they still visit Kyly if the little girl says she wants to see her mother.
Fortunately, this is an easy arrangement because the exes live close to each other in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
He added: ‘Our daughter is No. 1. We keep our friendship strong and we do what’s best for her.’
Blessed: ‘I’m extremely lucky to have been able to go through a separation with the mother of my child and us still be great friends,’ he told The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Pictured: Kyly Clarke
Without referencing his new girlfriend by name, Michael said that ‘there’s always other people involved’ in a divorce besides the couple going through it.
‘There’s families, there’s friends, if there’s a new person there’s that as well, so you’re trying to stay respectful to everyone. It’s easier said than done,’ he said.
Elsewhere in the interview, the Sky Sports Radio host revealed that he and Kyly were fortunate that news of their separation didn’t make headlines straight away.
‘We were lucky in a sense that we went through our separation five or six months before it touched the media so that allowed us the time to deal with [it],’ he said.
‘Like any break-up it’s always tough, so thankfully we were able to do that before it got out to the media.’
New love: Without referencing his new girlfriend by name, Michael said that ‘there’s always other people involved’ in a divorce besides the couple going through it. He is pictured with Pip Edwards on holiday in Noosa on July 11
After months of keeping their romance under wraps, Michael and Pip put on a very loved-up display while holidaying in Noosa earlier this month.
The pair were vacationing in the area with their children from previous relationships: Pip’s 13-year-old son, Justice, and Michael’s daughter, Kelsey Lee.
The P.E Nation founder used the holiday as an opportunity to make her relationship with Michael ‘Instagram official’, sharing a photo of the pair cuddling up on July 11.
Michael and Pip began dating shortly after the commentator’s split from model Kyly in late 2019, after seven years of marriage.
However, their romance didn’t make headlines until February, when the Clarkes publicly announced their separation.
Family trip: After months of keeping their romance under wraps, Michael and Pip put on a very loved-up display while holidaying in Noosa earlier this month. Pictured with Pip’s son, Justice