Opinion: Model behaviour could jeopardize Clarke's career

One of my favourite quotes is: "Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."

In many sports there have been great partnerships involving players who have both had their eyes on the prize.

In rugby there was the Stu Wilson/Bernie Fraser partnership, as well as the Frank Bunce/Walter Little duet.

Twins Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell had the ultimate partnership in rowing, which led them to two Olympic gold medals, numerous world regatta wins and New Zealand's athletes of the decade honour at the recent Halberg Awards.

These arrangements can also work well between coaches and players (Lydiard and Snell, Taumaunu and Muir), between team owners and coaches (Herbert and Serepisos), between athlete and support person (Tiger Woods and Steve Williams) and between man and beast (Mark Todd and Charisma).

Recently, the Black Caps have struggled to find an effective batting partnership, which showed when they lost the third one-dayer against Australia in the Chappell-Hadlee series on Tuesday night.

Australia, on the other hand, had the Ponting-Haddin partnership, worth 151 runs, which led to a comfortable six-wicket win.

The partnerships I've mentioned so far generally comprised sporting soulmates who brought out the best in each other.

As sport progresses in this post-modern, fame-hungry environment, partnerships that are destructive, controversial and have nothing to do with sporting performance are also on the rise.

It's testament to the mental toughness of the Australians that they won despite the media furore created when their vice-captain, Michael Clarke, went walkabout.

It turns out Clarke went back across the ditch to save his damsel in distress, fiancee Lara Bingle.

Bingle, a swimsuit model who has on occasion posed topless (with her consent), is famous for the "Where the bloody hell are ya?" line in an Australian tourism advertisement, so it is no wonder Clarke came running when he was beckoned - she's gorgeous and persuasive.

The saga involving nude photos of her in the shower being distributed by her ex-partner, AFL player Brendan Fevola, is a complex one.

On one hand it must be devastating to know that photos you didn't consent to are being circulated to millions, but Bingle's desire for attention and fame has left many feeling less than sympathetic to her plight, especially when she cries wolf one minute then dines with the wolf the next.

And what about Clarke's reaction to her plight? Many consider his actions sacrilege - professionally, because cricket is his job, and personally, because it is very rare to put your female partners before your brothers in team sport.

The ultimate Wag tends to be someone who looks good but understands that sport is your first love, so doesn't demand attention in season.

Clarke is on the verge of greatness in cricket but he is also smitten (and whipped, perhaps?), which could be detrimental to his career in the long term.

Bingle and Clarke are the Beckhams of Australia.

For now, it looks as though Clarke is willing to sacrifice his cricket career for Bingle in a bikini.

Love for them consists in gazing at each other and gazing in the same direction, toward momentary fame and fortune.