A spokesman said Clarke had left the team hotel in Hamilton on the eve of today's third one-day international against the Black Caps and it was not known when he would return.

Clarke's fiancee Lara Bingle has announced she's suing AFL player Brendan Fevola over a nude photo she claims Fevola took without her permission.

Woman's Day last week published the photo of Bingle in the shower that was allegedly taken while she and Fevola were involved in a secret affair in 2006.

Bingle has opened up in a magazine interview about the release of the photo, saying she has been deeply humiliated.

Her celebrity agent Max Markson says reports that Bingle, 22, was paid $200,000 for the interview and photo shoot with Woman's Day were "false".

Bingle told the magazine the nude photo was taken without her permission and she felt exploited and compromised by its release.

The model says she is suing the footballer to restore her "dignity and self-respect".

Bingle describes Clarke as amazing and says he has supported her in the "ups and downs that have happened in my life".

It's not known if Clarke's trip back home is related to any family illness, particularly with father Les who has battled cancer in recent years.

Clarke's departure leaves the Australian one-day squad down to just 12 players, with paceman Clint McKay and all-rounder Adam Voges vying for a place in the side.

A replacement may be flown over for the final two one-day games in Auckland on Thursday and Wellington on Saturday, a spokesman said.

It's not known if Clarke will return for the two-Test series starting on March 19.

Clarke, 28, has endured an unhappy two weeks in New Zealand, with mediocre form and constant hounding from media about his relationship with Bingle.