I am looking forward to playing in the IPL: Clarke – Cricket News Update
Australian skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 has admitted that he is excited at the prospect of playing some T20 cricket in the Indian Premier League, where he will join the Pune Warriors after having completed a successful tour of the West Indies with his national
side.
“The crowds look fantastic [at the IPL] … to be back playing some Twenty20 cricket, I'm looking forward to that,” Clarke said.
The 31-year-old recently led his side to a 2-0 Tests series win against the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, a feat which lifted the Aussies up to third place on the ICC’s Test team rankings, and ended Clarke’s first season as captain on a successful note, without a single
defeat to his name.
The right-hander, who last played a T20 in October 2010, had been made an offer by the Pune Warriors before the commencement of the ongoing 5th edition of the IPL, but turned it down owing to national duties. He had refused a similar offer during
the 2009 edition of the tournament, again citing the national team’s busy schedule as the reason behind his decision.
“I've never been to the IPL. I am looking forward to it. We [Australia] have a good break this winter. I've only got two one-day tours the whole winter, so if I was ever going to go this is the opportunity,” he said.
After their tour of the West Indies, the Australian team has a 6-month break from Test cricket, and only two limited overs series (against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755) scheduled before the World T20 in September this year, which gives Clarke ample time to focus
his energies on the IPL. He retired from T20 cricket in January 2011, but has agreed to participate in the IPL5, where the Warriors have been eager to have him – most of all captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sourav-Chandidas-Ganguly-c90746.
“I think that Sourav's always been a nice guy. I've always got along with him well and I look forward to playing under him,” http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 said.
The Pune http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s last Test match against the West
Indies, further confirming his worth as an all-rounder, and is likely to prove a valuable acquisition for the Warriors, who are currently at number 6 on the points table, having won only 4 of their 9 matches.
In addition to Clarke, who will be arriving to join the Warriors on April 30, other Australia players who will joining the IPL after their Caribbean tour are http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RJ-Harris-c2330 for the
Kings XI http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BW-Hilfenhaus-c1204 for the Chennai Super Kings.
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