Michael Clarke weighs up IPL stint

Michael Clarke's desire to improve his Twenty20 skills has got him thinking about taking part in the IPL for the first time - but only if his body is right. Clarke, Australia's captain in the shortest format, did not play in the opening three versions to spend extra time at home in Sydney.

Each year he weighs up a decision between making more money or having a holiday, and he hasn't always enjoyed a smooth relationship with Lalit Modi, the former commissioner. Modi is no longer involved in the tournament and Clarke is keeping an open mind about taking part.

"It's important for me to play as much Twenty20 cricket as I can but I've also got to sum up my body and my life when it comes to choosing between having that six weeks at home for a break or going to play IPL," Clarke said in the Sunday Telegraph. "If my body feels great and I'm confident I can go out and play those six weeks of the IPL, I'll put myself in the auction.

"But I've also got Test cricket and one-day cricket for Australia to think about, our schedule is very busy. If I felt like my body couldn't handle another six weeks of IPL, I wouldn't play it. It would make sense that the closer we get to the next Twenty20 World Cup, the more I'll want to play."

Clarke said the IPL had helped develop players, and not just in the T20 arena. "I would love, no doubt, to take part in the IPL," he said. "It's just a matter of when I might be able to play it."

In Matthew Hayden's autobiography he wrote about how the Australian players realised they weren't running the show and quickly learned that Modi was dismissive of excessive demands. "Michael Clarke found that out in a hurry," Hayden wrote. "I remember him saying to Modi, 'I'm worth X amount of dollars.' Modi laughed at him."