Michael Clarke speaks on Lara Bingle trip

Embattled Australian cricket vice-captain Michael Clarke has spoken out for the first time about his much publicised departure from his team's tour.

An upbeat Clarke - addressing media at Wellington's Westpac Stadium ahead of the Australia v New Zealand test, starting Friday - repeatedly tried to focus attention away from his personal life.

Clarke left the tour in the middle of the one day series to travel to Sydney to break off his engagement to celebrity model Lara Bingle.

However, he conceded the attention he'd been facing over the past week was part of the job.

"It's part of what we do. Being a professional athlete, it's not just what you do on the field, it's what you do off it as well."

He defended his decision to leave the team last week: "It was obviously something that I felt was important and needed to be done."

Clarke would not give details of why he left, but said, "I guess that's part of my personal life and I felt I needed to do that at the time".

Clarke also thanked his former Australian teammate Shane Warne for his friendship and support during the toughest period of his career.

"I have spoken to Warney, I've spoken to all my friends and family," Clarke said.

"He's been a wonderful friend of mine for a long time.

"He's excited to see me back in New Zealand and he has wished me all the best for the first Test match."

Clarke is expecting a ''bit of stick'' from the crowd.

''We'll wait and see what happens on Friday but I don't expect it will affect me too much,'' he said.

''I've copped a bit of sledging in my time.''

Clarke was all smiles earlier at training, fooling around with team mates during a net session at Westpac Stadium and said he was looking forward to playing in the first test.

Media were warned before the press conference to be careful with the way they put questions to Clarke, or the Australians would "walk away".

- with SMH

- © Fairfax NZ News