Clarke in talks about English county deal

Michael Clarke's first-class career may be revived by a stint with English county side Middlesex later this year.

The Lord's-based county have confirmed they're in talks with the former Australia captain about playing all three formats during a two-month period in the middle of the English summer.

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Middlesex already have Australian Adam Voges on their books for the coming season, who will captain them in four-day cricket, as well as Kiwi duo Brendon McCullum and Mitchell McClenaghan.

But with Voges set to be absent in the middle of the season due to Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka, Middlesex are seeking an overseas replacement.

"We are in discussions with a number of players and I would be lying if I said his name had not been mentioned,” Middlesex director of cricket Angus Fraser told the UK Telegraph.

"There is a long way to go before a serious conversation takes place.

"It will come down to him at the end of the day. He has to decide if he is fit and wants to do it.

"Then we have to see what we want and if he fits the bill."

The Telegraph is reporting that Clarke would be available for five first-class matches, four 50-over games and seven NatWest T20 Blast fixtures.

Should Clarke sign on and join McCullum at Lord's, it would mean Middlesex would have both captains from the 2015 ICC World Cup Final on their books.

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McClenaghan is available to play all formats while McCullum, who will retire from international cricket this month, will play both 50-over and 20-over matches.

The Black Caps duo will be available once their Indian Premier League commitments finish at the end of May.

Clarke, 34, retired from international cricket in August and then pulled out of his proposed stint in the KFC Big Bash League with the Melbourne Stars.

He announced his comeback to the game last month, saying he had "unfinished business" in Twenty20 cricket.

A veteran of 115 Tests, 245 ODI and 34 T20 internationals, Clarke will make his return to cricket for Sydney Premier Grade Cricket side Western Suburbs next weekend.

He also said at the time of his comeback announcement that he would "never say never" to a possible international return but has since distanced himself from talk of donning the green and gold again.

"I'm really focused on playing this game for Wests and then I've got all of winter to think about things," Clarke said on Thursday.

"A lot of things have been written and said and I take that as a compliment that people still think I can play - BBL, county cricket, for NSW or whatever.

"I'll have plenty of time to think about that but, right now, it's really just an invitation from my club to come back and play for them."

Clarke last year signed a two-year deal with the Stars but pulled out three months before the start of the tournament to take time off post-retirement.

He had previously expressed a desire to play in the BBL and other Twenty20 leagues across the world, such as the Indian Premier League.

He confirmed he had no contract in place with the Stars or any other BBL franchise for the coming season, with the Sydney Thunder already confirming they are unlikely to sign him.

"I haven't got a BBL contract - I obviously didn't play this year," Clarke said.

"I spoke to (Stars president Eddie McGuire) that I wanted some time away from the game. I don't have a contract with anyone."

Clarke accepted an invitation from his junior club to play against Randwick-Petersham in a two-day match next Saturday and Sunday at Pratten Park in Ashfield in inner western Sydney.

Before having his first hitout in the nets on Thursday and meeting his teammates, Clarke said he was passionate about giving back to the club he first played with as a 13-year-old.

"I'll bat wherever the skipper wants me to bat," Clarke said.

"I absolutely don't care. He just told me then he's got a spot for me. So wherever he wants me, I'm ready to go."