Joe Clarke is set to keep wicket and join Marcus Stoinis at the top of the order for the Melbourne Stars as preparations for the Big Bash enter their final week.
Clarke, who deputised for Tom Moores behind the stumps when Nottinghamshire met Durham in the County Championship in 2021, previously kept for England U19s and, more recently, on the franchise circuit with Karachi Kings.
"Obviously my keeping is something that has been on the back burner for the last couple of years," Clarke said. "I went to play in the Pakistan Super League last winter and was keeping in that and it's something I'm looking forward to doing in the BBL."
Having scored 64 from 40 balls against the Melbourne Renegades in a warm up game on Tuesday, the 25-year-old is also relishing time under the tutelage of former Outlaw David Hussey, the Stars’ Head coach, and Assistant Coach Ben Rohrer.
“I've really enjoyed working with them so far,” Clarke continued.
“Although obviously they didn't do too much with keeping in their day, they just facilitate the drills that I do back home and just make me feel as well prepared as I can be.”
Hussey is excited for Clarke’s introduction to the Stars team alongside T20 World Cup winner Stoinis, with the three-time Vitality Blast centurion having blazed 34 against Melbourne's men in green for Perth Scorchers last year.
“Joe has been outstanding for many a year opening the batting, most recently for Notts,” Hussey said.
“So hopefully they can gel very quickly and set a nice foundation for our middle order players.”
Clarke is joined Down Under by his Outlaws opening partner Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder) and Ben Duckett (Brisbane Heat), while the first fixture on 5 December will see the former Worcestershire man do battle with Notts’ two-time Blast winning captain Dan Christian and the Sydney Sixers.
*******
Nottinghamshire membership for the 2022 season is on sale now, with those who join our club bestowed access to all scheduled home domestic cricket alongside a plethora of additional perks.