Stuart Clark, the cricket worlds second best bowler

In 2005, Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark was a virtual nobody in international cricket circles, and two years on, he is the cricket worlds second best bowler. Then, he had not played a Test, but in the 12 Tests that he appeared in since, he has taken 58 wickets or an astonishing 4.9 wickets per match.

Sydney, Jan.1 : In 2005, Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark was a virtual nobody in international cricket circles, and two years on, he is the cricket world's second best bowler. Then, he had not played a Test, but in the 12 Tests that he appeared in since, he has taken 58 wickets or an astonishing 4.9 wickets per match.

This dizzying journey in Test cricket began in March 2006, during Australia's tour of South Africa. Clark finished his debut match in Cape Town with the eye-catching figures of 9-89 and man of the match honours. The right-armer was later named man of the series in South Africa.

"I'm still not quite sure how to feel about it, because I had no idea about it until somebody told me earlier today," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clark, as saying.

Only Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's world-record-holding off-spinner, is ranked above Clark. The Australian paceman has risen 10 places from the previous year, illustrating just how successful he has been in replacing Glenn McGrath. McGrath, the bowler to whom Clark is often compared, was ranked third on the ICC rankings entering 2007.

Clark, though, was not the biggest mover among Australia's Test fast bowlers unit. That honour was reserved for Brett Lee, who has rocketed 15 places to fifth and is revelling in the responsibility of leading the Australian attack. Lee's recent run of form could also see his average slip below 30 for the first time in four years during the Sydney Test. The right-armer's 253 Test wickets have come at 30.31 to date.

"There is a very good group of fast bowlers developing at the top end of Australian cricket, and I would throw Shaun Tait into the category, too," said Australian bowling coach Troy Cooley. "They all perform very different roles, and that makes it easier to adapt your tactics depending on the opposition and the conditions.

"It is also important that there are a group of quality fast bowlers underneath them, like [Ben] Hilfenhaus and [Ashley] Noffke. That creates a healthy competition, and means that no one can afford to be complacent," added Cooley.

ANI