Melbourne: Retired Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill scotched rumours of his possible return to international cricket and said if it wasn't for injuries, he would have continued playing for the country.

Plagued by nagging knee and wrist injuries, MacGill, 37, quit international cricket five months back.

Speculations were rife about MacGill's possible comeback to strengthen Australia's spin attack, depleted after Shane Warne's retirement, but the leggie was quick to clarify that he had no such intentions.

"I apologise for any confusion. My feelings are simple and unchanged. I would love to be playing cricket for Australia, but unfortunately I am injured," MacGill was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Telegraph'.

"If I wasn't injured I wouldn't be retired, that is what I have said all along. The international travel and playing schedule is such that I am unable to guarantee my fitness for Test cricket, however I hope to be still able to compete at the first class level.

"I will only consider that to be an option when I can guarantee both myself and my teammates that I can perform not only a training session, but a match and the remainder of the season," he added.

Meanwhile, his state side New South Wales have said that they will take a decision whether or not to include him the team only after talking to him.

MacGill, Australia's second best spinner after Warne, has claimed 208 wickets in 44 Tests at a strike rate of 29.02.