Former Australian Test captain Michael Clarke has made a stunning family confession just one week after sensationally quitting his breakfast radio gig.

Clarke, 43, has invested most of his life into cricket. He made his Test debut in 2004, scoring a century against India, and went on to captain Australia from 2011 to 2015. 

Under his leadership, Australia won the 2015 Cricket World Cup and regained the Ashes in 2013–14 with a 5-0 whitewash. 

Clarke was celebrated for his ability to perform under pressure, amassing over 8000 Test runs, including a remarkable year in 2012 with four double centuries. 

He retired from international cricket in 2015, leaving a legacy as one of Australia’s finest modern-era captains.

Clarke was also a key figure on morning radio program Sky Racing’s Big Sports Breakfast until he quit last week to further his podcast and find a better work/life balance.

Clarke, pictured with the World Cup, was one of the most successful Australian cricket captains of all time

Clarke has given up his breakfast radio show to bring more balance to his life and to work on his podcast

Asked if he missed playing cricket, he told The Morning Show ‘Not one bit’.

‘It will always be a part of my life, but I never saw cricket as my life completely,’ he said.

‘That’s why I think the balance now is really important.

‘The podcast allows me to stay involved with the game, a little bit of commentary, I am going over to India again this year.

‘But there’s other things.’

Clarke then made the startling revelation about his daughter Kelsey Lee and how working in cricket had robbed them of precious moments together.

‘My daughter is now nine, like, not going back to radio this year, I drove my daughter to school for the first time – and she’s nine,’ he said.

‘I know it sounds so simple, but when you’ve never done it, you know, they’re the things I love. So yeah, I think I’ve got the balance right.’

Clarke was inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame at the Australian Cricket Awards this week

Clarke, Michael Bevan and Christine Matthews were officially inducted into the Cricket Australia Hall of Fame at the Australian Cricket Awards on Monday.

And Clarke said there were a couple of important coincidences that came with his induction.  

‘It’s certainly an honour,’ he said.

‘To be inducted into a group of people that I idolised growing up as a kid or looked up to, players that I learned about through my father and grandfather that inspired me to play the game that I love so much, it’s a very special honour.

‘To be the 64th inductee, I don’t know if it was a coincedence – and I spoke to the guys that did induct me and asked if it was a set up, but they said no – but Phillip Hughes’ number was 64.

‘So that made it even more special.

‘And I got inducted on January 23, which was my playing number that Warnie handed down to me.

‘So yeah, talk about icing on the cake, very special and I feel very privileged to be a part of such an amazing group of players.’