Retired Australian Test captain Michael Clarke has flagged a possible return to first-class cricket and refused to rule out wearing the baggy green once more, insisting he is in good shape ahead of a grade cricket comeback.

The 34-year-old, who retired following Australia’s Ashes defeat last August, will make his return for grade team Western Suburbs against Randwick-Petersham on February 20-21 – saying that the prospect of playing in next year’s Big Bash League appeals to him.

Clarke hung up the boots after a tumultuous final 18 months as Test captain, during which time he struggled for form and fitness, fell out with Australian selectors and buried his close friend Phillip Hughes.

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However he believes the recent break from cricket has rekindled his love of the game and helped his troublesome back recover.

Should his comeback to grade cricket be a success, Clarke could join the likes of England’s Kevin Pietersen and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis on the international Twenty20 circuit – playing in the lucrative domestic competitions around the world, including the Big Bash League and Indian Premier League.

Clarke could join the likes of Kevin Pietersen on the international Twenty20 circuit. Photo: Getty

“Spending nearly five months away from cricket, I’ve missed that competitive side of the game,” Clarke said on Sunday.

“I think it’s in my blood, I love the game of cricket, and I always have.”

Clarke said his father had told him after his retirement that he would play again.

“I said ‘Dad, I’ll never play cricket again, I’m not going to make the same mistake twice’. So he was right, I’m playing for my grade club.

“I’ll worry about, you know, if New South Wales want to speak to me then I’ll be more than happy to talk to them.

“But my focus right now is Western Suburbs, if I love it then focus on the shorter format.”

Clarke said his love of the game had prompted him to go back to his old grade side.

“As a six year old boy the first thing I’d do at 5am is open the curtains, look outside, see a blue sky and ‘go you beauty, we’re playing today’,” he said.

“That’s what I miss, that’s the part of the game that I probably miss the most.

“That’s why I’ve said yes to Western Suburbs, I want to get back and play with my mates and play with the club that’s been so loyal and looked after me through my career, I think it’s the least I could do for them.”