Carney, Clarke and Success

Todd Carney has turned to Michael Clarke for advice on dealing with his annus horribilis

I'll take it from here...

Carney is believed to be considering asking Lara Bingle out, but wants to seek the blessing of the man nicknamed Pup before he asks her out on a date.

"She's real purdy," Carney said.

Michael Clarke's manager, Les Biles, could not be reached for comment, although Clarke himself was happy to open up to League Blog.

"Yeah, Carnes and I have been having a few candlelit dinners to see if we can work out where he went wrong this year. We're pretty sure it's the coach's fault, and if not the coach, then the captain, and if not the captain, the selectors. I can rule out the vice captain as the source of anything annus horribilissy."

LB asked whether Clarke had given Carney the all clear to pursue Bingle.

"He wants to what? You have to be ****ing kidding me."

LB was then privvy to Clarke ringing Carney and engaging in a heated conversation. We of course won't divulge the contents of the conversation, other than to say it was mostly about exotic TAB bets.