Clarke announces cricket comeback

Michael Clarke has confirmed he is making a comeback to cricket, and in relation to whether he could be eyeing off a possible international return after a low profile resumption he has indicated he’d ‘never say never to anything’.

Clarke will play for his NSW grade cricket club Western Suburbs in a match against Randwick-Petersham starting on February 20, the same day Australia’s second Test against the Black Caps in New Zealand begins.

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The former Australian captain retired at the end of an Ashes series where the urn-holders were humbled by a 3-2 loss to England, during which he scored 132 runs at an average of 16.5.

Raw Vision: Clarke's final Test post-match

He had earlier retired from limited-overs international cricket after leading Australia to an ICC Cricket World Cup win in Melbourne last year.

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Michael Clarke with the World Cup trophy

Clarke, who turns 35 in April, has indicated he will make himself available for the Indian Premier League and then the KFC Big Bash League in the tournament’s sixth season while he also mooted a possible return to red ball action in England at county level and Australia in the Sheffield Shield.

“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 Limited.

“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.

“There’s BBL next summer, I’d love to be a part of that, IPL, county cricket. There’s possibly even Sheffield Shield cricket for NSW.” 

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Kyly and Michael Clarke at last week's AB Medal

At the time of his retirement announcement, which came during the now infamous fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge last year when Australia were dismissed for 60 in the first session of the match, Clarke had said it was ‘the right time’ to call an end to his career.

Clarke announces his retirement with friend Shane Warne

"Unfortunately I haven't played as well as I would have liked and I think it's the right thing and the right time to give the Australian team and the next captain that chance to prepare for the next Ashes series,” said Clarke, after England had beaten Australia at Trent Bridge to reclaim the Ashes.

Flashback: It started with a 6am text...

Clarke has played six IPL matches in 2012, and would have to be picked up by a team in the tournament’s auction – which is held on February 6 – in order to take part.

He had earlier signed up to play with the Melbourne Stars prior to the most recent BBL season, but pulled out of that arrangement due to personal reasons.

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Clarke and daughter Kelsey Lee during his recent SCG lap of honour

However, using the return for Western Suburbs as a springboard, Clarke hasn’t ruled anything out in regards to what may lie ahead with his career.

“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.

“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.”

Australian team members pay tribute to Clarke after retirement