Melbourne, Nov 15 (ANI): Michael Clarke will take on spin-legend Shane Warne in next week’s All Stars Twenty20 blockbuster, after he persuaded chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch how keen he was to play.

“I’ve spoken to Andrew Hilditch and told him I’m really keen to play. I think he’s happy for me to play,” Clarke said.

Ahead of his long-awaited comeback from injury for NSW against Tasmania today, Clarke’s motivation to add the All Stars clash to his schedule flies in the face of on-going debate about player burnout, The Herald Sun reprots.

The All Stars match will be played next Sunday, four days before Australia’s opening Test match against the West Indies in Brisbane.

Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden have been named in the All Stars line-up.

An Australian XI, which would feature Clarke, will be named after the Test team is named on Thursday.

Clarke will step out for the first time since 2006 for NSW today, after being sidelined from Australia’s Champions Trophy and India one-dayers with a lower-back condition, The Herald Sun reports. (ANI)