Clarke Opts For Commentary Stint Over Big Bash League

Michael Clarke, the former Australian captain, who retired from international cricket last year, will be seen behind the microphone during the Australian summer after he penned a contract with Channel Nine's World Wide Sports as a commentator for the forthcoming home season. The 35-year-old veteran also said that the commentary stint would stop him from partaking in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the 2016-17 season.

Earlier, Clarke had indicated that he was mulling making a comeback to playing top-flight cricket by participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and BBL.

However, the legendary Australian cricketer has decided to play one-day games for his club - Western Suburbs - for the opening three rounds of Premier Cricket. He is expected to represent his club against Mosman at Allan Border Oval on September 24. Clarke, who played 115 Tests and 245 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for Australia, has also ruled out playing for New South Wales Blues in the Sheffield Shield.

"Clarke has decided against returning to elite cricket with the NSW Blues," a Cricket NSW spokesman told News Corp in June.

Since calling time on his illustrious career, Clarke has played just two Twenty20 (T20) matches for Kowloon Cantons in the T20 Blitz held earlier this year in Hong Kong. However, he has on numerous occasions suggested that T20 cricket would be his most likely avenue for a comeback to playing cricket.