Clark uncomfortable with world No. 2 ranking

Stuart Clark says he is still "green" in terms of Test cricket despite being ranked as the world's best fast bowler. Following the Boxing Day Test against India Clark jumped to No. 2 on the ICC's Test bowling rankings, trailing only Muttiah Muralitharan.

Clark enjoyed a boost after collecting match figures of 5 for 48 against India and he now sits ahead of Makhaya Ntini and Brett Lee at the top of the fast-bowling list. It has been a rapid rise for Clark, who has only played 12 Tests and has 59 wickets at 19.33.

"It really doesn't sit comfortably," Clark told the Australian. "OK, those rankings are great, but I'm still learning, I've played a lot of first-class cricket and a few Test matches but I'm still green."

Clark went for only 1.6 runs an over in the MCG Test as the slow pitch and his nagging line tightened the already defensive Indian order further. "To be fair, the wicket suits what I do and, with the way I bowl, it just gets really frustrating, I reckon," Clark said. "If you bowled badly, you got belted, but we bowled well in groups and were hard to score against.

"It just became really depressing to bowl. I know why you would play two spinners and there's probably every reason to do so, but on that sort of wicket the quicks are the ones that could tie you up and frustrate the bejesus out of you."

Australia's bowling coach Troy Cooley said Clark played a critical role in the team. "He has all the qualities now," Cooley said. "He can seam it, he can reverse it and, if he is given the new ball, he swings it, as he keeps telling me."