Australia's Test captain Michael Clarke may finally make his Big Bash League bow later this year after being announced as the skipper of Melbourne Stars.
Clarke has not played in the Big Bash due to his international commitments, while he has not competed in a Twenty20 match since May 2012 with Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League.
But he retired from one-day internationals after Australia's World Cup win last month and is now keen to make his mark in the Big Bash, with David Hussey taking charge of the Stars when Clarke is on Test duty.
"I've been fortunate throughout my career to have success in the Test format and in the most recent one-day World Cup," Clarke said on the Big Bash's official website.
Welcome @MClarke23 - our new captain #captainclarke#gostarspic.twitter.com/vjkP5sCXtx
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) April 16, 2015
"There's a goal I haven't achieved yet and that's trying to help a team win the BBL and I look forward to the challenge over the next couple of years of trying to help the Melbourne Stars.
"I'm really confident. We have a fantastic team and have done well for a few years now. I'm hopeful I can help contribute and bring a title to the Melbourne Stars."
Clarke, who made the last of his 34 Twenty20 international appearances in October 2010, last year resigned as captain of Sydney Thunder, with whom he never played a match.
He replaces Cameron White as captain of a Stars team that includes Kevin Pietersen and Luke Wright.