Clark feared for his career

Veteran paceman Stuart Clark admitted there were times he thought his Test career was over after breaking his way into Australia's XI for the fourth Test at Headingley on Friday night.

Clark celebrated an eight-month hiatus from the Test fray with three key wickets as Australia played itself into a commanding position on the first day.

The rising 34-year-old recorded the impeccable figures of 3-18 from 10 overs in a performance which vindicated the chorus of support for his reinstatement following Australia's indifferent form with the ball this series.

Clark, Australia's leading wicket-taker from the 2006-07 series, now boasts 29 wickets against England at the miserly cost of 15.9 runs apiece.

He snared the wickets of frontline batsmen Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood, and paceman Stuart Broad as England's innings spiralled out of control in the first session.

It was a welcome return for Clark, who was once a permanent fixture of Australia's attack but fell out of favour after breaking down with an elbow injury last summer.

The coming of age of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus in South Africa forced Clark down the pecking order to the point where he thought he had played his last Test.

"When you're injured there was a lot of speculation, would I play again or could I play again?" he said.

"When the guys did so well in South Africa there was always a little bit of talk."

"I have to learn to deal with it, so do all the guys on the sidelines, Brett (Lee) is at the same position at the moment. When the guys bowl well there's nothing we can do about that. "

While he could understand why he was being shunned that did not make it easier to accept.

He attributed his tremendous success against England to a case of being at the 'right place at the right time'.

"(I) try to put as many balls in the right spot, a little bit of movement, if they nick them they get caught, if they miss them they get bowled, if they hit them in the middle they go for four," Clark said.

It was with some irony that he shared the spotlight with Siddle, the man whom many thought Clark would tip out of the side.

Siddle claimed his maiden Ashes five-for, removing four tailenders to finish with career-best figures of 5-21.

The Victorian said Clark's tight and consistent bowling up the other end allowed him to claim the 'goodies'.

Siddle also said extra patience and consistency was the main difference between Australia's performances in the first three Tests to this game, an assessment supported by England wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

"First and foremost I think the Aussies bowled well, they put the ball in the right area enough times," said Prior, who top-scored for the Poms with an unbeaten 37.

"You know as a player if the opposition are doing that it's always going to be tricky."