Clarke keeps mum on Bingle fiasco

Australian cricketer Michael Clarke said it was important returned home to sort out his personal life. Photo / Getty Images

Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke put on a brave face this morning, avoiding questions about his personal life and saying he was looking forward to the test match starting on Friday.

The level of media attention had been unexpected, he said.

"It's been a very interesting couple of weeks but it's great to be back here in New Zealand with my teammates," he said.

"The guys have been fantastic, so supportive, and I'm here preparing for a test match and I'm really looking forward to Friday.

"Everybody's is entitled to their ... have their jobs to do, I guess, and I certainly understand being a professional athlete, what you do on and off the field is going to be recognised, and I accept that."

Clarke came under intense media scrutiny and criticism for leaving his team and returning to Australia in the middle of the one-day cricket series, after controversy exploded over his fiance and model Lara Bingle and a naked photo of her appearing in the tabloids.

Clarke and Bingle have called their engagement off.

This morning Clarke said the sideshow has not affected his ability to concentrate on cricket.

"I made a decision firstly to go home and then to come back.

"It was obviously something I felt was very important and needed to be done, and I did that. My teammates were fantastic and very supportive, all my friends and family have been wonderful.

"For me it's important to do what I had to do in my personal life and it's important for me now to be back with my teammates and make sure I'm concentrating on playing a test match for Australia."

When asked if he still talked to Bingle, he said: "I'm not going to comment on my personal life."

He said any comments from spectators or from the New Zealand side during the test match would not affect him.

"I'm sure I'll get a little bit of stick but I don't mind that. No matter where you are in the world, every country wants their team to win and do well. We'll wait and see what happens on Friday but I don't think it will affect me too much.

"I've copped a fair bit of sledging in my time whether it be about stuff on the field or off the field. I have the utmost respect for the New Zealand guys and I'm sure they're the same. We'll play it by ear but I don't think it will affect me."

He said he had a good training session this morning and would be good to go on Friday.