Clark desperate to play

Stuart Clark has arrived in Cardiff, London, Birmingham and Leeds to headlines extolling his chances of playing in each of the first four Tests of the Ashes. On the first three occasions, he was omitted. And he is hardly dusting off the baggy green ahead of this latest fixture either.

Unlike Brett Lee, who all but dared the selectors not to pick him during a bullish press conference on Wednesday, Clark is circumspect when assessing his chances for Headingley. Certainly, he is frustrated at having been overlooked so far in the series - particularly when team balance, rather than form or fitness, has been the selectors' reasoning - but Clark harbours no demands or ultimatums on the eve of the fourth Test.

"I haven't got any massive statements; I'm just waiting for an opportunity," Clark told Cricinfo. "It looks like there may be some carry and a bit of variable bounce as well. I'm as keen as ever to play. Whether I get no wickets or 20 wickets, I just want to play. It's killing me just training and not playing.

"I thought I was a real chance for the first Test. I thought I was going to play, but I never really knew. For Lord's, with the way they'd played at Cardiff, I thought it would be pretty hard to change the team. And with Edgbaston, after the bowlers went better in the second innings at Lord's, I thought it would be hard to change the team again. I think it's a balance thing."

Clark again appears in a straight selection shoot-out with Peter Siddle for Australia's third pace slot on a dry Headingley wicket, although there remains the possibility that Nathan Hauritz could be omitted in preference of an all-pace attack. Either way, Clark can expect another tense Test eve as he awaits to learn his fate; a situation becoming all too familiar on this tour.

It was only two years ago that Clark claimed an Ashes series-leading 26 wickets at 17.03 in an Australian side that contained both Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. He went on to play a leading role in Australia's ensuing series victories over Sri Lanka (home), India (home) and West Indies (away), but encountered elbow problems on the subsequent tour of India, and again upon his return to Australia.

The injury, prompted by outfield throwing rather than bowling, required season-ending surgery and opened the door for Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus. Both contributed to Australia's stunning victory in South Africa, earning themselves enough selection credits for the first three Tests of the Ashes series.

Whether there remains enough for a fourth is still in question, however, given the manner in which Siddle and Mitchell Johnson hemorrhaged runs at Lord's and Edgbaston. Clark's unnerving bounce and unerring accuracy would appear the ideal remedy to Australia's profligate bowling, and his tour record of nine wickets at 25 from three practice matches indicates his readiness. But has he done enough to convince Jamie Cox, Australia's on-duty selector?

"I think they've seen enough to suggest that my arm injury is behind me," he said. "Whether they questioned it after the Worcestershire game I don't know, but I think during the Northants game I let go of any of those worries they might have had. I'm not having any grief from it. In India it was restricting me because it was starting to swell. I would lose movement, but I'm not having any dramas with that at all. It feels as good as gold.

"It's just about waiting for an opportunity. That may never happen, but I can only keep training. I'm actually sick of training. It's getting to the stage where I just want to play now. It's the Ashes in England, so that has added significance. But, really, I don't care who it's against at this stage. I just want to play more cricket for Australia."