Worcestershire sign Australian pace bowler Clark

Worcestershire have signed the Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark as their replacement overseas player for the early weeks of the season.

Clark, 26 and six foot five inches tall, has taken more wickets than anyone else in Australia's Pura Cup domestic competition, and will fill in for Andy Bichel at New Road.

Bichel won't be in England until after Australia's series against South Africa and Zimbabwe, which finishes on May 8.

Clark has also helped New South Wales to victory Australia's one-day ING Cup, and follows Bichel and Test great Glenn McGrath as Worcestershire's overseas star.

The county's director of cricket, Tom Moody, said: "Clark has been carefully selected ahead of other international cricketers because of his outstanding recent form in Australian domestic cricket.

"He is on the fringe of selection for his country."