Clark no certainty for The Oval

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Stuart Clark's first innings burst may have been the pivotal moment in Australia's thunderous victory at Headingley, but Andrew Hilditch, Australia's chairman of selectors, insists the veteran paceman will not be guaranteed a starting berth for the fifth Test.

Hilditch, speaking at Australia's limited-overs squad announcement on Tuesday, was adamant Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus remained Australia's first-choice Test fast bowlers, with Clark set to duel with Nathan Hauritz for the final bowling berth ahead of the Ashes decider at The Oval.

Clark dismissed Alastair Cook, Paul Collingwood and Stuart Broad in a sublime first innings performance which yielded figures of 3 for 18 from ten overs. His unwavering accuracy and unnerving bounce provided the Australian attack with the pressure-building intensity it sorely lacked at Lord's and Edgbaston, and his outswing perfectly complemented Johnson's movement back into England's right-handers on a torrid first morning.

It was no coincidence Clark's first call-up of the series coincided with Australia's first victory, however Hilditch refused to concede that his panel had erred in not picking him earlier in the tour. Moreover, Hilditch predicted Clark's involvement in the fifth Test would be more dependant on conditions than form, with a dry pitch to tip the selection balance back in Hauritz's favour.

"[South Africa] was one of the best series victories I've been involved in and we had three strong fast bowlers in Johnson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus which took us through that series," Hilditch told reporters in Adelaide. "It was always going to be very tough for someone to knock them out.

"Although they've probably taken a bit of time to hit their straps, the reality is all three are now the leading wicket-takers in the Ashes, so I think all those selections have been absolutely spot-on. We've also played on very dry wickets and Nathan Hauritz has had a very important role to play, probably the first opportunity really to consider playing four quicks was at Headingley.

"Stuart Clark got the nod and he did a good job, but the other three bowled exceptionally well as well and took more wickets. So I think we go into the final Test with those three fast bowlers as our leading bowlers at the moment."

Australia's selections have generated much debate since the start of the Ashes series. The move to omit the reliable Clark appeared to haunt the tourists at Sophia Garden, Lord's and, to a lesser extent, Edgbaston, as Johnson and Siddle leaked runs at an alarming rate. The decision to replace Phillip Hughes with the relatively untried Shane Watson after the second Test also invited controversy, however Watson's three half-centuries at the top of the order have gone far to vindicating the move.

"I've got to say from a selection point of view I've been thrilled with the Ashes, I think it's gone particularly well," Hilditch said. "Every decision's been tough because we did have a strong squad we thought coming over from South Africa.

"We were disappointed in Cardiff. If we'd won in Cardiff, which we obviously should have, the whole series would have been very different, so we've taken a while to come back from that. The Oval will be a tough Test. We're going to have tough selections. Stuart Clark played well, Brett Lee's going to be fully fit and ready to go, so it's a good position to be in, but it's not going to be an easy decision."
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