Michael Clarke broke down while talking about the tragic death of cricketer Phillip Hughes in a preview for his tell-all interview with 60 Minutes.
While recalling the events of late November 2014, the 35-year-old held back tears as he admitted he gave himself false hope his teammate would survive.
‘I guess I probably tried to tell myself that there’s a chance he’d be okay,’ he revealed, before adding: ‘But I think I knew there wasn’t.’
Emotional: Michael Clarke broke down while talking about the tragic death of cricketer Phillip Hughes in a preview for his tell-all interview with 60 Minutes
Phillip died on November 27, 2014, three days after he was struck in the neck by the ball during a match at the Sydney Cricket Ground between South Australia and New South Wales.
At the 25-year-old’s funeral, which was held in Macksville, NSW, Michael acted as one of the pallbearers and spoke highly of his dear friend in an emotional eulogy.
In his speech, Michael said: ‘I don’t know about you but I keep looking for him. I know it’s crazy, but I expect any minute to take a call from him or to see his face pop around the corner to call me into the next room for a story and a laugh.
‘Rest in peace my little brother. I’ll see you out in the middle.’
Hope: While recalling the events of late November 2014, the 35-year-old held back tears as and admitted he gave himself false hope his teammate would survive
The moment: He recalled, ‘I guess I probably tried to tell myself that there’s a chance he’d be okay… But I think I knew there wasn’t’
Also in the preview for the 60 Minutes interview, Michael refused to apologise for his ‘younger self’, including the incident involving ex-girlfriend Lara Worthington (nee Bingle).
When asked by reporter Allison Langdon if he felt the ‘need to defend or apologise,’ he answered: ‘I have apologised enough.
‘I haven’t done anything wrong. I just did it my way,’ the father-of-one continued.
Tragic: Phillip died on November 27, 2014, three days after he was struck in the neck by the ball during a match at the SCG between South Australia and New South Wales
Bond: At the 25-year-old’s funeral, which was held in Macksville, NSW, Michael acted as one of the pallbearers and spoke highly of his dear friend in an emotional eulogy
No backing down: Also in the preview for the interview, Michael refused to apologise for his ‘younger self’, including the incident involving ex-girlfriend Lara Worthington (nee Bingle)
As a flashback image of himself and ex Lara flashed up, Michael commented: ‘I ended up hiding in the boot of my mate’s car and snuck out.’
While it is not known what incident he was referring to, the pair famously made headlines in 2010 after he left a cricket tour in New Zealand to return to Sydney for ‘personal reasons’.
Two days later, he announced his two-year engagement with the model was over.
Outspoken: When asked by reporter Allison Langdon if he felt the ‘need to defend or apologise,’ he answered: ‘I have apologised enough. ‘I haven’t done anything wrong’
Controversial: As a flashback image of himself and Lara flashed up, Michael commented: ‘I ended up hiding in the boot of my mates car and snuck out’
The cause? While it is not known what incident he was referring to, the pair made headlines in 2010 after he left a cricket tour to return to Sydney to end their two year engagement
At the time, it was reported Michael struggled to move on after a naked photo of Lara – taken by her former lover Brendan Fevola – was leaked to the media.
The Channel Nine reporter went on to ask the ‘controversial cricket captain’: ‘Did you throw a tantrum? Were you a good vice-captain to Ricky Ponting?’
She also appeared to leave the sportsman speechless when she asked: ‘You called Shane Watson a cancer on the team? Did you say that?’
The 60 Minutes interview will air on Channel Nine on Sunday, October 16 at 8.30pm.
Lost for words? Reporter Allison Langdon appeared to leave the sportsman speechless when she asked: ‘You called Shane Watson a cancer on the team? Did you say that?’