Clarke bats for Bingle in off-field game with media

Cricket star Michael Clarke has spoken glowingly of former fiancee Lara Bingle.

Under scrutiny since briefly leaving Australia's tour of New Zealand and calling off his two-year engagement to Bingle, a Sydney model, Clarke responded with 100 not out on the first day of the first test against the Black Caps at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday.

"It's a very special feeling any time you make a hundred, but it's been a tough couple of weeks and I guess the support I've had from family, friends, team-mates – and I know I spoke to you guys about saying I don't want to talk about my personal life – but the support I've had from Lara as well has been tremendous," an emotional Clarke said last night.

"And without her and her support, I certainly wouldn't have been back over here.

"To my family and friends that have supported me and Lara, I thank them very much."

He praised the courage of Bingle, who has been involved in a nude-photo scandal.

"I'd be lying to say I hadn't read it or watched the television and the news and stuff. I've seen it," Clarke said about the coverage of their split.

"But as I said in my press conference [on Wednesday], I understand that you guys have a job to do.

"Me being a professional athlete, it's not just about what I do on the field; it's off the field as well," he said.

"I think Lara's copped a lot of criticism over the last couple of weeks and it takes a very strong woman to be able to handle that, and, like I say, it's respect to her and it's respect to my team-mates to give me the time away I needed and then the opportunity to come back and make me feel so welcome in the team."

- © Fairfax NZ News