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 OvaShow more

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



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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Your Guide to the Home
  • Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
  • Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
  • Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
     
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Match info

Karnataka Tuskers 110-3

J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16

Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs

K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18

The biog

Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito

Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa

Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".

Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".

Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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India cancels school-leaving examinations
Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

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Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures

October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA

Essentials
The flights

Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing. 

Company%20Profile
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Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.

The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.

All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.

No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.


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