Michael Clarke's abrupt departure from Australia's tour of New Zealand to be by the side of fiancée Lara Bingle must, at the very least, call into question his right to be Australia's next Test captain.

In fact, it should mean his hopes are dashed.  For can Australia really rely upon him to handle the pressure and time-commitments associated with this demanding role when this nude photo scandal involving Bingle and her former lover and AFL bad boy Brendan Fevola has clearly impacted on him so greatly?

If Clarke had returned for health reasons -- his father Les is battling cancer -- that's a totally different story. And rightly so.

What the Cricket Australia executive, board and his teammates must now be wondering that if he was prepared to flee mid-series over this issue, what about next time when Bingle finds herself in a...well, bingle? And, the way the model is heading, it appears there will be always be a next time.

Would he be prepared to leave England amid a crucial Ashes series for the same reason?

So public and tabloid has the couple's relationship been that the CA board, cautious by nature, must surely wonder if Clarke is the right "statesman" to follow into office the likes of Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, the latter having grown into that role.

After all, Shane Warne was overlooked for the captaincy solely because of his off-field troubles.

This issue, admittedly, isn't Clarke's fault but it will still tarnish the "wholesome" reputation CA demands of its leaders. When deciding who would succeed Waugh as limited overs skipper in 2002, the board, for instance, looked more favourably on Ponting as he was just months away from marrying.

The good news for Clarke is that he still has time to rehabilitate his image. Ponting will be around at least for another year, and CA has few other options.

Brad Haddin, 32, would be a fine captain but CA historically has felt wicketkeepers have enough on their plate. Simon Katich, 35 in August, and Mike Hussey, 35 in May, are the wrong ages, while an outside bet, Victorian skipper Cameron White, is the right age (26) but is not even in the Test team.

Those who know Clarke say he is smitten with the blonde poster girl, and his devotion knows no ends. By returning home, it looks as if he is reinforcing that point.

Perhaps there is one solution for this mess. Let's turn back the clock and reprise the days of the 1970s when all team problems were discussed and solved over a beer in Ian Chappell's hotel room. Surely the straight-talking former skipper could talk some sense into Clarke, Bingle, Markson and even Fevola.