Australia’s Michael Clarke walks off the pitch past his Australian teammates after ending his final Test match on the forth day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test between England and Australia at the Oval cricket ground in London, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Australia’s Michael Clarke walks off the pitch past his Australian teammates after ending his final Test match on the forth day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test between England and Australia at the Oval cricket ground in London, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Australia’s Michael Clarke walks off the pitch past his Australian teammates after ending his final Test match on the forth day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test between England and Australia at the Oval cricket ground in London, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Australia’s Michael Clarke walks off the pitch past his Australian teammates after ending his final Test match on the forth day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test between England and Australia at the Ova

Cricket

Retirement comeback: Australia’s former Test captain Michael Clarke ‘realised cricket is in my blood’

Clarke, 34, who bowed out in August after the woeful Ashes series in England, said his first game would be with his grade club Western Suburbs against Randwick-Petersham in Sydney on February 20-21.

Agence France Presse

January 31, 2016

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Former Test captain Michael Clarke on Sunday said he was returning to cricket six months after he retired, saying he had “unfinished business” in the shorter form of the game.

Cricket in the blood

Clarke, 34, who bowed out in August after the woeful Ashes series in England, said his first game would be with his grade club Western Suburbs against Randwick-Petersham in Sydney on February 20-21.

“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,” Clarke told News Corp newspapers.

“At the same time I’ve realised cricket is in my blood. I’ve been looking for an outlet to replace what I’ve chosen to walk away from.”

Missed playing

One of the outstanding batsmen of his generation, Clarke said he “missed the game” and would “never say never to anything”.

“I’ll start with Western Suburbs and we will see where it takes me.”

Eye on Twenty20

The batsman, who became Test captain in 2011, last year pulled out of his Big Bash League deal with the Melbourne Stars but says he is interested in returning to Australia’s domestic Twenty20 league.

“We’ve got BBL, IPL, a number of tournaments around the world that allow you the opportunity to go and play that,” he told commercial broadcaster Channel Nine.

Lehmann reception

Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann welcomed Clarke’s return: “He’s a pretty good player, his record speaks for that,” Lehmann told reporters in Sydney.

“As far as I know and I spoke to him this morning, it’s just about playing that first grade game in February and see where it takes him from there.”

Hussey keen on link-up

Former Test player Michael Hussey, who recently retired from BBL team Sydney Thunder, said his side would be interested in accommodating Clarke.

“Would we be interested? I reckon,” Hussey told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph of recently crowded BBL champions Thunder.

“He’s an experienced player, top order player – that’s exactly what we’re looking for.”

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