T20 return of Michael Clarke marred by rain

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke made a comeback to the sport but his return to cricket in the Hong Kong T20 Blitz was marred by rain. This was his first appearance in a professional match since the Ashes last year.

Playing for the Kowloon Cantons, Clarke looked set for a merry run and showed glimpses of good form when he raced to 15 runs in 10 balls against the Island Warriors. It was the rain that interrupted then and Clarke couldn’t get a chance to bat again in the match. This was his final match and the team’s final match this season.

Earlier in the tournament, he had scored 6 from 7 balls against the Hung Hom Jaguars. He lost his wicket to bowler Jangzeb Khan. However, in the same match, veteran former Australian wicket-keeper Ryan Campbell took all the limelight. Campbell, who now plays international cricket for the Hong Kong national team, scored a blitzkrieg 58 off 37 balls.

In the other match that the team was scheduled to play, Clarke was unlucky as the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled. In all, the tournament ended with Kowloon Cantons and the Woodworm Warriors being declared as the joint winners of the inaugural edition.

Speculations are being made that Michael Clarke might return to domestic cricket soon. However, Clarke’s nature of play, which is conventional strokeplay, might count against him. He is yet to play a BBL match. Clarke, however, cleared that he has no intention to make a comeback in the Tests or ODIs or even T20Is for that matter, but would love to play in tournaments like the T20 Blitz.

Also, read – Michael Clarke expected to return to Australian domestic cricket

“I certainly don’t have any ambition to play Test and one-day cricket, and international Twenty20 cricket, but I think there’s probably a little desire there to come and play in tournaments like this,” he quoted.

He also said that he prefers T20 cricket now and has his focus shifted to the shortest format of the game. “I like the fact that Twenty20 cricket only goes for three hours. It’s something I haven’t focused on throughout my career,” quoted Clarke.

“I love the fact that I’m here. I’ve said for a long time that through my career I would’ve loved to have done this earlier but because we’re so busy, we’re on the road so much, you don’t get the opportunity when you’re playing for Australia. Now I’ve got the time, hopefully, I can do more of it,” he added further.