Yesterday I bumped into Stuart Clark, one of the heroes of the 2006-2007 whitewash of England, the last time that Ashes feat was accomplished by the baggy greens
Clark, now 38, looked super-fit, and very very relaxed.
“After 20 years of worrying about performances as a player, and then as an administrator worrying about crowds and behind the scenes, now I’m working in a lawyer’s office and having a great time,” he told me.
“I can go to the cricket these days just to watch, and not have a worry in the world.”
But Clark was a major worry to England in that series, he out-metronomed ‘Mr Metronome’, Glenn McGrath.
Clark captured 26 wickets at a miserly 17.03 apiece – McGrath 21 at 23.90. Throw in Shane Warne 23 at 30.34 and Brett Lee 20 at 33.20, and between them they stitched up England good and properly.
It’s interesting comparing that Australian side with the current one, as they ride roughshod over the old enemy.
In 2006 Australia won the first Test by 277, the current side by 381.
In the second Test, ’06 won by six wickets, the current side by 218.
And the third Test in ’06 by 206, the current side by 150.
Comprehensive wins across the board, with Mitchell Johnson taking the Stuart Clarke role, and Ryan Harris the McGrath position.
But with all due respects to the current side, it doesn’t bristle with legends, or potential legends.
In 06-07, there were plenty – Matt Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, and McGrath.
It was an awesome side and would have fielded the same XI for all five Tests had Damien Martyn not suddenly retired after the second Test to be replaced by Andrew Symonds.
This current side could well go through the five Tests without a change, providing injury doesn’t rear its ugly head.
David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Clarke, Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Johnson, Peter Siddle, Harris, and Nathan Lyon look set, and settled.
But they have some pretty heavy duty batting averages to compare with 2006-07.
Mike Hussey – 458 at 91.60.
Ponting – 576 at 82.28.
Clarke – 389 at 77.80.
Symonds – 232 at 58.
Hayden – 413 At 51.62.
Warne – 196 at 49.
Gilchrist – 229 at 45.
Langer – 303 at 43.28.
Having said that, the current side cannot do anything more than beat what the opposition selects.
And right now England has a hat full of selection problems.
Not that Stuart Clark cares, he’s just enjoying the Australian form reversal as much as anyone else who is an Australian.
bryan
Guest
Highly underrated player. It is interesting to note that M North and S Kattich both had a bowl before Clark did in his last match at the oval, with M North trowing down 30 overs to S Clark's 12. Should of been brought into the team a lot earlier with Dizzy fall from form.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Great bowler Stuey Clark, would have played a stack of Tests for any other country if he didn't play in the wonderful era of McGrath, Dizzy and Binga. Clark and McGrath bowling together would have been infuriating for batsmen. Stuey good value on Sports Sunday on Sky, calls a spade a spade !
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Retired so soon?!? He was 36 when he played his last Test. Any proof for that Symonds story? No, I didn't think so.
Griffo
Guest
Sounds a bit like the other Stuey.... MacGill. Didn't like a beer, in fact prefered wine. Punter and friends didn't like it so when on tour in South Africa Andrew Symonds went and took a dump in his suitcase. That's why MacGill retired so soon.
Johnno
Guest
If only Stuey was around in Pup's era, he would a fitted right in. no Beers. But he is not metro, so he probably wouldn't of fitted in either. Who does win the aussy dressing room. It's a strange place.
Maggie
Guest
Always enjoyed watching Stuart Clark captain the NSW Sheffield Shield team. Astute use of his bowlers particularly of Nathan Hauritz (who in my view had been unfairly dropped from the Australian side). -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Johnno
Guest
1 down, 3 to go. Anderson,KP,Prior. Ashes tours have a history of ending careers for the losing team, especially the England team. A few aussy players too. Over the years. Gatting,Harmison,Jason Gillespie,Geriant Jones, just to name a few.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
I'm disappointed to hear that. I'm sure he wouldn't have retired if the Ashes were still up for grabs...
jamesb
Guest
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2527764/England-bowler-Graeme-Swann-calls-day-retires-cricket.html "Graeme Swann has announced that he is quitting the England team with immediate effect. The 34-year-old spinner will stay in Australia with his family, but will not take part in the remaining two Ashes Tests after making the dramatic announcement on Saturday." Yep, Swann is retiring.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Ah, found some more reliable info than Wikipedia. Geez, way to go out strong. I feel for the bloke, a very good spinner whose record didn't deserve the beating he got in Australia. I wonder if this has anything to do with his trouble in the British press after saying losing in Perth was like being "arse-raped."
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Wow, Swanny. Did't even heard this in the news, apparently it happened yesterday. Where's all the articles. Is this even true?
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Yeah I heard the word that they didn't get on. APPARENTLY it's because Stuey didn't like a beer and Ponting thought it didn't go along with the team culture.
DubbleBubble
Guest
England have one less selection headache now. Graemme Swan has retired. WTF?! Also I remember that Clark only got a run in that series due to Watson being injured. I believe they were going to give Johnson a run but Watson pulled out with some type of injury so they went with a S.Clarke as the third choice seamer as he was considered a safer bet over the younger untried Johnson and without Watto to support the bowling it wasn't a risk the selectors were willing to take. Not only did S.Clarke wind up the bowler of the series but M.Clarke got his no.6 spot back and stayed on in the team after playing well.
BargeArse
Guest
i always got the sense that Ponting under-utilised Clark ... or had some sort of antipathy towards him.Perhaps Ponting had something against Clark's academic abilities? Anyway I always remember an unplayable over he bowled in that Gabba test.
JGK
Roar Guru
You can hear Stuart on breakfast radio on sky sports radio over summer.
Johnno
Guest
Australian Test-Match bowlers last 25 years. This is only test match form, some of these bowlers are really good ODI or T20 bowlers I'm focusing on there Test-Match ratings. Tier 1: Shane Warne,Glen Mgrath,Jason Gillespie,Bruce Reid,Craig Mcdermott Tier 2: Brett Lee,Damien,Fleming,Mitchell JohnsonRyan Harris, STUART CLARK, James Pattison when fit and firing he only played 1 bad test now everyone seems to say he's rubbish when only 6 months ago he was the our strike bowler,Terry Alderman,Stuart Mcgill Tier 3: Peter Siddle,Merv Hughes,Michael Kasprowicz,Geoff Lawson,Tim May,Carl Rackemann,Colin Miller, a young Steve Waugh Tier 4: Greg Campbell,Brendon Julian,Andy Bichel,Nathan Lyon,Greg Matthews,Simon Cook,Tondy Dodemaide,Joe Angel,Nathan Hauritz, Jason Krejza, Peter Taylor, Shaun Tait, Simon O'donnell Gavin Robertson, Mark Waugh Tier 5 lol: Micheal Beer, John Hastings,Chris Matthews, Scott Muller,Xavier Doherty,Bryce Mcgain, Beau Casson Stuart Clark was a good bowler who should of played more tests for Australia.