Cricket: Clarke eyes T20 in return

Michael Clarke.
Michael Clarke.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke will focus on the Twenty20 format if he does commit to a return to top flight cricket after making his club return.

Clarke retired from the international game in August following the Ashes Test series in England, having already stepped down from the one-day scene after the World Cup win on home soil earlier in 2015.

The 34-year-old opted against taking up the first year of a two-year deal with Big Bash League franchise Melbourne Stars and announced in September he was taking an extended break from the game.

On Sunday, Clarke confirmed he would play in a game for his Sydney grade side Western Suburbs on February 20-21.

He wouldn't commit to anything beyond that fixture, but said he missed the competitive side of the game and if he did return to senior level, he would concentrate on T20.

"My focus is definitely the Twenty20 format," Clarke told AAP.

"I was so focused when I was playing international cricket on test and one-day cricket that I said no to a lot of IPL opportunities.

"I didn't play a game in the Big Bash. I was resting my body through that time to make sure I was fit for test and one-day cricket.

"Now I have the chance if I do enjoy it, that I can really focus on the shorter form and changing parts of my game to suit that form of cricket."

Clarke suffered from injury issues in the latter years of his career, but said his body felt good after a five-month break.

He said he had unfinished business with T20 cricket, the one format in which he didn't excel.

He averaged 49 in tests and 44 in ODIs but just 21 in 34 T20 internationals.

"It's the one area that I certainly feel like I haven't fulfilled my potential," Clarke said.

"If I miss it and enjoy it, that will be my focus to come and play some Twenty20 cricket and try and master that format."

Clarke had no regrets about quitting international cricket and hadn't missed being out of the spotlight.

"I certainly feel like I retired from international cricket at the right time for a number of reasons, for me, for my family, for my team," Clarke said.

He didn't talk up any ambitions to return to international cricket, though others will raise that possibility.

"He'll have to score some runs as everyone else does," national coach Darren Lehmann said when asked if Clarke could return to international level.

"It's just great to see him back and falling in love with the game again."

Clarke said he was proud of the way the Australian team had played this summer.

"I've still been following it from afar and talking to plenty of the boys throughout the summer," Clarke said.

"A lot of the new guys coming in have had success straight away, but also the old boys are doing alright as well, Adam Voges is on fire.

"I think the team is in a really good place, there's a great mixture of youth and experience."

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