SA in Australia
Clark tour blow for Aussies
2009-01-29 09:36
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Rob HouwingCape Town – Australia’s hopes of beefing their Test squad for the South African tour with ace swing bowler Stuart Clark have been dashed.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Thursday that Clark, player of the series on the previous visit in 2005/06 with 20 wickets at 15.85 in the Aussie whitewash of their hosts, had been ruled out following a setback to his troublesome elbow.
Australia are desperate to find something “new” in their bowling formula after the surrender of the home Test series, Brett Lee’s long-term injury and the fact that their ODI seamers have taken a right old pasting from the Proteas, too.
Clark was intended to come back for the Baggy Greens in the nick of time, but his withdrawal from an important personal “trial” – participation in New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania from Friday – has dashed his hopes.
National selection chief Andrew Hilditch was quoted by the paper as saying: “Stuart has now outlined he hopes to play again for New South Wales at the end of February, a decision that will be made in close consultation with Australian and NSW medical staff.
“Unfortunately due to this Stuart will not be considered for selection in the Test squad for South Africa which will be announced next week and leaves on February 16.”
It is likely, the Herald said, that the main pace trio in South Africa will thus be made up of Mitchell Johnson (unusually ineffective in the ODIs thus far after a heavy load in the Tests), Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger.
That news is unlikely to send massive shivers down many South African spines …