MICHAEL CLARKE'S GRIEF 'I'M DEVASTATED'

It's a heartbreaking time for the former Aussie cricket captain

Michael Clarke is hurting just as much as our other shattered cricket stars and fans after the shock death of sporting legend Andrew Symonds.

Stunned and heartbroken, even though the pair hadn't spoken for years, Michael simply posted Devastated as a single-word tribute to the man known as Roy.

We were so opposite in so many ways. The laughing joke in our team was complete city boy me, complete country boy him, yet we built an amazing connection, he told The Big Sports Breakfast last week.

Symo was probably my favourite batsman to bat with in the Australian team, he added. I'm very fortunate to have spent so much time with him on and off the field, to have played with him.

CELEBRATING VICTORY

Michael's other Instagram post was just as poignant as his first - he posted a shot of him and Andrew celebrating victory in the cricket World Cup between Australia and England in 2007, capturing an embrace between two best mates.

I loved nothing more than walking out to play for our country together, he wrote.

Less than 12 months later one of the most celebrated bonds in Australian cricket was forever broken amid claims of greed, jealousy and betrayal with Andrew, 46, revealing just weeks ago that he still hadn't forgiven Michael, 41.