Staking his claim for a place in the third Ashes Test after a strong show against Northampton in the tour match, forgotten fast bowler Stuart Clark said he can play an Andrew Flintoff-like role and intimidate England batsmen.
"I get the ball to bounce a little bit more being a little bit taller. That's probably my biggest weapon. If you can get the ball to bounce, as we saw with Freddie (Flintoff in the second Test at Lord's) you can be a handful," Clark, who took 2-45 from 14 overs in Northampton innings, said.
Clark, who bowled with control and consistent movement on the second day of a three-day tour match, believes he is closer to a Test recall.
"It's always nice to get a few wickets. I was probably a little bit rusty to start, but it was a pretty good day. I probably bowled better in Worcester (during a tour match before the first Test) after playing two games in a row, but this wicket was a little bit more conducive," Clark said.
"Sometimes your results get based on how many wickets you get and whether you bowled well or not is irrelevant," he was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.
The 33-year-old Clark, hero of the 2006-07 Ashes in Australia with 26 wickets, admitted he was "disappointed and surprised" to be left out of the first two Tests.
"I thought I was a real chance (to play the second Test at Lord's) but given the boys played really well in Cardiff and all the bowlers did really well, it was always going to be hard to change that team. I was disappointed I didn't play at Lord's," said Clark.
"I loved the Ashes series in Australia and I was fairly successful. It's an Australian cricketer's dream to play Test cricket against England in England.
"I've sat on the sidelines and watched, and it's been pretty hard to watch two Tests. I may have to watch for the next three, but I'm going to do everything in my power to control that."
Clark stakes claim for third Ashes Test
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