Michael Clarke is refusing to categorically rule out a comeback as Australian Test captain in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal that has rocked world cricket.
Clarke is hoping for forgiveness for Steve Smith after the embattled skipper admitted to his team cheating during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
"If I was asked by the right people, then I would think about my answer," Clarke said on the Nine Network after being grilled about the potential of answering an SOS call from officials.
Despite saying he was "appalled" that the leadership group - comprising of Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon - had even contemplated cheating, Clark sympathised with the captain.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"When I look at that, Steve Smith wants to captain Australia. In my heart, I believe he has just made a really, really bad mistake," Clarke said.
"I hope there can be a way around this, that he can continue to captain Australia."
Three years into retirement, Clarke tried to "sit on the fence" when repeatedly asked if he would consider a recall as captain.
"This is so raw right now. This is not about me at all," he said.
"This is about Australian cricket and the future of Australian cricket and where these current players and this current structure and leadership sits, and my job is to make sure I can help this game come back from this.
"I work for Channel Nine and I sit on this desk today and I really hope that that young man finds a way to be able to captain Australia."
Asked what his wife thought of a possible recall, Clarke again left the sensational possibility of a comeback open.
"She just sent me a text message with, "What's the emoji?" The monkey has the hands over her eyes," he said.
"She is at home waiting for the answer as well, I imagine."
