Clarke's resistance to IPL ends by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

---

Player:

MJ Clarke

---

DateLine: 29th August 2009

 

After resisting the IPL's lure in the first two editions, Australia's vice-captain Michael Clarke said he wants to play in the 2010 chapter.

 

Talking to reporters, the Australian vice captain, who would lead Australia in two Twenty20 Internationals and first three of the seven ODIs against England, said IPL 2010 would prove a perfect build up for next year's Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.

 

"For me, it's about timing," Clarke said on Friday.

 

"Certainly, the positive I see about the IPL is it leads into the Twenty20 world championship, so it's very good preparation for all the guys playing in the IPL. They'll have a lot of Twenty20 cricket going into the world championship," the right-hander was quoted as saying by the 'Australian Associated Press'.

 

Clarke had recieved scathing statements from IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi who after the Australian's last minute withdrawal from auction ahead of IPL II, said that the batsman chickened out fearing he might not find takers.

 

Reminded the incident, Clarke said, "At some stage, I definitely want to take part in the IPL. It's been a wonderful tournament. It's helped a lot of players. It's given guys an opportunity to be on the big stage and put their hand up...I'd definitely like to take part in it at some stage.

 

"I just need to work out when's the right time, and hopefully Lalit will let me play, more importantly," he added.