Debutant puts SA in trouble
Debutant puts SA in trouble
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Thursday, 16, Mar 2006 09:03
Australian Stuart Clark ripped into the South African top order on his debut to take five wickets on the first day of the first Test.
The 30-year-old has waited a long time to get the nod from the Australian selectors and rewarded their faith with a brilliant five-wicket haul.
The Aussie pace-man took 5-55 as he skittled South Africa's best batsmen. The Proteas' triumvirate of batting stars Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis all fell to Clark.
South Africa were bowled out for 205 and despite Andre Nel's early wicket Australia moved onto a comfortable 63-1.
He was helped by some fine fielding as Adam Gilcrist and Matthew Hayden took excellent catches to put the pressure on South Africa. Clark needed no help with his best ball of the day which clean bowled the in-form Gibbs.
He said: "I suppose I've been through times where I thought it was never going to happen, but you try and keep those thoughts at the back of your mind. It was a surreal feeling to put the cap on my head.
"Someone said, 'You're one of the lucky ones to play test cricket, there's only been 395 before you so enjoy it'."
Brett Lee also took three wickets on a day when the bowlers were well on top in stark contrast to the record-breaking one-day slog-fest between the two sides earlier in the week.