10/08/2009 11:38 AM
Despite playing a major part in the reversal of Australia's bowling fortunes, paceman Stuart Clark is no certainty to retain his place in the side in the fifth and deciding Test at The Oval.
Whether or not Clark plays will be largely determined by how selectors interpret the appearance of the wicket at The Oval, which has a reputation for being one of the hardest and driest in England.
With Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle both bagging five-wicket hauls at Headingley, Clark will be the man most at risk of making way should selectors decide they need the off-spin of Nathan Hauritz.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting strongly hinted Clark, whose three wickets were instrumental in unhinging England for 102 on the first day, would be retained but stopped short of rubber-stamping it.
Ponting said Australia would only play four quicks if conditions warranted.
Clark's performance in the second innings, where he was pasted for 74 runs from 11 overs as Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad threw caution to the wind, would not harm the veteran's cause, Ponting said.
"They were just out there throwing their bat at it but I guess Stuart's greatest strength some time can also be his greatest weakness as well," he said.
"He hits great areas and can become a little bit predictable and I think that's probably what he fell into today and they played some good shots off him."
"I think we saw in the first innings how good a bowler Stuey can be when the conditions are right and how much he does complement that attack."
Clark's control coincided with greater returns from Siddle and Johnson, whom Ponting was able to use in shorter and sharper bursts.
After erring on the side of under-bowling Johnson and Siddle earlier in the tour, Australia will closely monitor the pair's workload during the 11-day gap between the fourth and fifth Tests.
Australia will give its most senior paceman Brett Lee a chance to stake his Test case in a two-day tour game against county side Kent in Canterbury starting next Saturday.
But after watching their side play so well at Headingley selectors will take considerable persuading to alter a winning line-up.
"When a team performs as well as this one has you wouldn't think there'd be too many changes," Ponting said.
"It's going to be hard to break a combination that's performed as well as this one has over the last two-and-a-half days but we'll check the conditions first."