Michael Clarke opens up about ‘tough day’ after the death of his ‘best mate’

Former Australian cricket captain, Michael Clarke is facing yet another round of heartache as he mourns the loss of his “best mate”, his grandfather Ray Fox.

Clarke took to social media on Monday, March 27, to share the devastating news alongside a photo of him standing beside his grandfather’s coffin.

“Never gets any easier,” he wrote.

“In losing my Grandfather, I lost a best mate. I feel blessed to be surrounded by so much love on a extremely tough day. RIP Pop.”

 

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A post shared by Michael Clarke AO (@michaelclarkeofficial)

Fans joined close friends in offering their support to Clarke during what was surely a difficult time.

Television personality Larry Emdur was among the first to offer his condolences to Clarke.

“Sorry to hear that news mate. Wishing you and the family all the best,” he wrote.

“Thinking of you.”

“My condolences, sending strength and love,” one fan wrote.

“Sorry for your loss cuz. I know how close you were with your pop. Stay strong buddy.”

“I feel your pain, sending strength to you on a very tough day.”

The news of his grandfather’s death comes after Clarke was forced to navigate the emotional turmoil of losing his former teammates Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds in 2022.

Warne’s life was tragically cut short after he died of a suspected heart attack, at age 52 while holidaying on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand on March 2022.

Symonds died in a single-vehicle crash outside of Townsville on Saturday, May 2022, at the age of 46.

Following Warne’s death, a devastated Clarke opened up about his friendship with the King of Spin, revealing that he was “as happy as ever” the last time they spoke.

“He was trying to, you know, get fit and healthy but he’s done that a million times, you know, so nothing really changed,” he told Nine News.

“And that’s why I think it happened so suddenly and so quickly with no real warning.

“I think that’s why everyone’s still finding it so difficult to comprehend.”

 

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Clarke spoke further regarding Warne’s loyalty and that he was a “very giving friend”.

“Nothing was ever too difficult and he’d drop everything for you,” he said.

“And you know, the other side, what a great dad he is.

“You know, I think when you’re his friend, you get to see a real good look at that. But really, everything the world knows about him is exactly what he was like.”