21 September 2007 By Graham Croker
Although Australia lost a crucial pool match to Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa on Wednesday, fast bowler Stuart Clark returned his best figures of the tournament.
The Sydney University quick took 3-27 from his allotted four overs, justifying his selection in the Twenty20 side.
Clark has been a key member of Australia’s Test line-up since breaking into the side on the 2005-06 tour of South Africa, but has struggled to establish himself in the one-day side. He played just one match, against Ireland, during Australia's unbeaten run to a third straight World Cup title in April.
Following the limited-over World Cup he spent the Australian off-season playing for Hampshire – captained by Shane Warne – with the aim of bettering his one-day prospects.
He returned to the national team at the Twenty20 World Championships and his changes of pace and variety have made him one of the most difficult bowlers in the tournament to get away.
"It was one of the reasons why I went to England, to try to do a few different things and work on a few different things," Clark said. "It seems to be going alright at the moment, but I can still get better at it. But it's a big key in one-day international cricket, being able to vary your pace."
Clark has taken five wickets at an average of 11.8 in Australia’s opening three games of the tournament. And his economy rate is a miserly 4.9 runs per over.
"I think Twenty20 cricket is more like bowling at the end of a one-day game, slower balls, better yorkers, there's no magical secret to it, you've just got to be good at whatever you do," he said. "I definitely want to become a permanent member of the one-day side. I'd like to be in any team for Australia, doesn't matter what game it is."
Meanwhile, he’s hoping his economical tour continues when Australia play a must-win match against Sri Lanka tonight.