Former Aus skipper Michael Clarke set to play for his NSW grade club Western Suburbs next month and may make himself available for IPL, Big Bash leagues
Michael Clarke
Sydney: Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has vowed to return to cricket after retiring from the sport following an Ashes drubbing in England last year.
Michael Clarke. Pic/AFP
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Clarke will turn out for his New South Wales grade cricket club Western Suburbs in a match against Randwick-Petersham starting February 20.
Clarke also indicated he will make himself available for the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) and then the sixth season of Big Bash League at home.
For starters...
Revealing his comeback plans to News Limited on Saturday, Clarke said: “To step away from cricket for four months has been great. I have found my body has enjoyed it and my mind has really enjoyed it too.
“At the same time, I've realised the game of cricket is in my blood. I've been looking for an outlet to replace what I've chosen to walk away from. So I'll start with playing this grade game for Western Suburbs and see if I miss it as much as I feel like I'm going to.
“If I do, the option is there to train the entire winter and then we'll see what happens.”
Clarke, who turns 35 in April, decided to turn up for Western Suburbs after getting a call from one of the club's board members.
“When David Thompson, one of the Western Suburbs board members, phoned me and asked if I'd like to be part of the Pratten Park match, it got me thinking,” he said.
'I missed the game'
“It doesn't matter what level you're playing or who you're playing for, I recognised that I missed the game.
“All I know is, I'll never say never to anything. I'll start with Western Suburbs and we will see where it takes me. For now, my focus is definitely the shorter format of the game.”
Clarke was all set to play in the recently-concluded Big Bash League, but pulled out due to personal reasons.
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