8 November 2007 By Graham Croker
When Sydney University's Stuart MacGill and Stuart Clark don their baggy greens to take on Sri Lanka at the Gabba today it will not be the first time they have played together for Australia.
The pair took the field in the First Test against Bangladesh at Fallujah in April, 2006, when leg-spinner MacGill took his career-best figures of 8-108 in the host’s first innings.
And that was the first time two Sydney University Cricket Club members have played for Australia in the same Test since Tom Garrett and Sam Jones stepped onto the Sydney Cricket Ground to take on England in January 1887.
Playing in the shadow of Shane Warne, MacGill has had a remarkable strike-rate for Australia, with 198 wickets in 40 Tests since making his debut against South Africa in 1998.
Clark’s debut was more auspicious. Making his Test debut at Newlands Ground in Cape Town in March 2006, the economics-business student collected match figures of 9-89, the third finest by an Australian newcomer, bettered only by Bob Massie’s 16 wickets against England in 1972 and Clarrie Grimmet’s 11 wickets back in 1925.
Clark has since taken 47 Test scalps in nine matches.
Former Australian player and Sydney University team-mate, Greg Matthews, was effusive in lauding Clark’s debut.
“It was stunning,” Matthews said. “I was stoked, I was happy, I was proud. The key to Stuey’s success has been bowling a yard fuller. He’s a poor man’s McGrath but I say that as a compliment. McGrath’s one of the greats.”
In South Africa’s first innings Clark claimed the prized wickets of South African captain Graeme Smith, veteran superstar Jacques Kallis, and one-day torturer Herschelle Gibbs. Despite watching part-time trundler Andrew Symonds given the ball before him, Clark struck with quick wickets and was eventually rewarded with 5 for 55 off 17 overs.
Clark also bowled impeccably in the second innings, fracturing the South African middle order of Kallis, Ashwell Prince and Nicky Boje before mopping up Andre Nel at the tail. His miserly 16 overs conceded only 34 runs, while he also breathed some old-fashioned fire, striking Mark Boucher twice in an over. He was fittingly named Man of the Match and later Man of the Series.
The First Test against Sri Lanka could well see MacGill join the elite 200-Test wicket club and Clark break through the 50-wicket barrier.