Michael Clarke In Surprise Return To Cricket

Retired Australia captain Michael Clarke is returning to cricket and has opened the door on an international comeback.

Clarke quit all forms of cricket following the Aussies' Ashes defeat last summer but has confirmed he will play in a grade game for Western Suburbs next month.

Beyond that he is targeting the world's big T20 tournaments, but a return to the first-class game at home and in England is also on the agenda.

And the 34-year-old, who struggled with back and hamstring problems towards the end of his career, has apparently refused to rule out an international future, claiming he will "never say never to anything".

He told News Limited: "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.

"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.

"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 averaged 49.10 with the bat in 115 Tests for Australia and also played 285 one-day internationals.

He last appeared in the English county game in 2004, when he played 30 times for Hampshire across all formats.