Ashes: Border says Clark should replace Johnson

August 20th, 2009 LONDON - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has hinted strongly that the selectors are likely to keep faith in fast bowler Stuart Clark at the expense of Nathan Hauritz in the final Ashes Test beginning today What we see at the moment is what we expect," said Ponting who, at 34, will surely be playing his last Ashes Test on English soil. "We're going to have to see something really different to change the make-up of the side considering everything worked really well.

August 13th, 2009 LONDON - As the debate rages over whether Australian pace bowler Stuart Clark should be picked for the Ashes-deciding Test at The Oval, England opener Cook and blue-collar battler Collingwood are praying he is overlooked. Clark has the wood on the duo to such an extent that he has dismissed each man five times in the six Tests he has played against England, including sending them both back to the dressing room in the fourth Test at Headingley.

August 12th, 2009 ADELAIDE - The chairman of Australia's cricket selection committee, Andrew Hilditch, has declared that Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle are the future of the Australian bowling attack and that fourth Test hero Stuart Clark will be dumped for the Ashes decider at The Oval. "Stuart Clark got the nod (last Test) and he did a good job, but the other three bowled exceptionally well also and took more wickets," the Daily Telegraph quoted Hilditch, as saying.

August 9th, 2009 HAMPSHIRE - Hampshire's director for cricket operations Tim Tremlett is of the view that Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark is set to wreak more havoc in the Ashes series with his Glenn McGrath-like qualities. Tremlett believes that Clark possesses the nagging accuracy and probing line and length to leave the required devastating impact.

August 5th, 2009 BIRMINGHAM - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting believes he has unlocked the secret to pace bowler Mitchell Johnson - keep him away from the new ball. There are encouraging signs that Johnson is starting to turn his horror Ashes tour around.

July 28th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Former Australian captain Allan Border feels struggling seamer Mitchell Johnson needs to step away from Test cricket for at least a week to rebuild his game. Border said Johnson should be replaced by Stuart Clark for the third Test of the ongoing Ashes series, beginning Thursday at Edgbaston.

July 27th, 2009 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE - Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark believes that he can intimidate England and is confident about a Test recall after being his side's best bowler during the second day of a three-day tour match against Northamptonshire yesterday. While Peter Siddle finished with the most wickets, 3-53 from 9.3 overs, Clark bowled with great control and consistent movement to take 2-45 from 14 overs before the county declared at 7-226.

July 27th, 2009 SYDNEY - Fast bowler Stuart Clark insists he can intimidate England just the way Andrew Flintoff has Australia. Clark went on to say that he believes he is closer to a Test recall after being Australia's best bowler during the second day of a three-day tour match against Northampton Sunday.

July 26th, 2009 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE - With just four days to go for the third Test at Edgbaston, Australia's cricket selectors have been placed in a quandry over what to do with their struggling left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. On Saturday, Northamptonshire batters carted Johnson for 42 runs in seven overs.

July 22nd, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border has defended Ricky Ponting's captaincy in the face of criticism following Australia's dismal performances in both the Test matches of the Ashes series. "When Ricky took over with the likes of Warne and McGrath, the team wasn't all that different and he kept the ball rolling after Steve Waugh.

July 21st, 2009 LONDON - Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is expected to be handed one last chance to keep his Test spot by impressing in Australia's practice match at Northampton starting Friday. The national set-up is running out of patience before next week's third Ashes Test in Birmingham following the erratic left-armer's disastrous efforts with the ball at Lord's.

July 8th, 2009 BRISBANE - Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border has said that he is a bit worried about Australia's preparation for the Ashes series. In an article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Border said his concern has been magnified by the fact that Brett Lee, the side's most experienced bowler, is injured and out of the first two Tests.

June 24th, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border has named Australia's best players to have played against England in the past 30 years in July's special Ashes issue of Alpha magazine. Border, who made his Test debut 30 years ago, was the skipper of the 1989 Australian team to tour England, and the ensuing 4-0 thumping set the tone for a 16-year Aussie dominance that lasted until 2005.

June 24th, 2009 LONDON - Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has said that he is prepared to call up a batting replacement to the Ashes squad because of Shane Watson's knee injury. The injury-hit all rounder was ruled out of the four-day tour match starting on Wednesday against Sussex in Hove after undergoing scans on his knee on Tuesday.

June 16th, 2009 LEICESTER - A spot in Australia's pace-bowling attack, it seems, is a more pressing issue for the team than strategizing plans to overwhelm the Poms in the Ashes. That's what pacer Stuart Clark says.