Clarke to be named Stars captain

Michael Clarke is set to be unveiled as the Melbourne Stars new captain tomorrow morning at the MCG.

The Stars have a press conference scheduled for 9am AEST at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where Clarke is likely to be named as Cameron White's successor.

Clarke is yet to play a match in the KFC T20 Big Bash League competition due to his heavy international commitments.

But now the 34-year-old has some time up his sleeve since retiring from one-day international cricket following the World Cup win over New Zealand last month.

Clarke had previously been tied with local outfit the Sydney Thunder, but with White moving to cross-town rivals the Melbourne Renegades, a spot in the batting order and as captain has become available.

The dashing right-hander played the last of his 34 T20 internationals for Australia in 2011, but has a featured in handful of games in the Indian Premier League since.

Stars president Eddie McGuire said last month his side had been courting Clarke for the T20 tournament.

"I've spoken to Michael, he's a friend of mine," said McGuire.

"We'll have further discussions once the World Cup is out of the way. That's where it is at the moment.

"I'm hopeful. He hasn't played Twenty20 Big Bash at all, he pushed that aside so he could concentrate on one-day internationals and his Test career.

"He's never played in the IPL for that reason, because he wanted to keep his body as good as it possibly could be.

"So let's see what happens after the World Cup. And if he does, I think he would be a very appropriate person to be at the Stars.

"He's the biggest star in Australian cricket and I'd love to see him alongside Kevin Pietersen." 

Watch: Pietersen pummels Renegades

Following their fourth-straight exit in the semi-finals last season, both White and head coach Greg Shipperd have parted ways with the club.

Shipperd has been replaced by former New Zealand captain and Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming.

"I've been coaching in India for the past seven years in the IPL and have watched the Big Bash League grow from afar," Fleming said in February.

"It's a great opportunity to work with another T20 side – the Stars are an exciting club and I'm looking to develop my coaching through this opportunity as well.

"It will be a big change after Greg, who has been working with both the Stars and Victorian sides for four years; it's going to be a different perspective coming from outside of that.

"Hopefully it's an opportunity for me to bring in some fresh ideas from the IPL and my time as a New Zealand cricketer."