New kid on the block: How young gun Clark followed in famous father Stuart’s footsteps

Back enjoying the summer sun with his cricket-mad kids, former Aussie fast bowler Stuart Clark reflects on the next generation and recalls his involvement in the “darkest day in cricket”.

Stuart Clark celebrates the wicket of Paul Collingwood at Headingley, 2009.

For the handful of spectators at Parramatta’s Old Kings Oval last Sunday, the action was akin to a changing of the guard.

On the pitch was a tall young seamer, while beyond the picket fence stood her father, former Aussie paceman Stuart Clark.

Already in the U16 NSW pathways, Sophie Clark is well advanced on her own cricketing journey. And as the leading wicket-taker in the U18 Women’s Brewer Shield, she’s a vital cog in the St George-Sutherland line-up.

While hesitant to talk-up the pair’s uncanny similarities, the 24-Test veteran with 94 wickets simply pointed to Sophie’s affection for the game.

Next-gen Clark: Stuart for Australia in 2006 and Sophie for St George-Sutherland in the U18 Brewer Shield. Pictures: AAP Image/Chris Scott, Warren Gannon Photography

“She’s doing pretty well and loves playing cricket,” Clark said.

“She’s mad about the game 24-7 and I think that’s a quality you need, even for first grade cricket.”

Not that Clark, with 14 first-class seasons under his belt, was about to take any credit.

“She gets nice and upright when she bowls, and it’s all very natural and she likes doing it,” said Clark.

“But I have to say, when I have given her tips, she doesn’t listen anyway.” he added with a laugh.

Worlds away from the 2006-07 Ashes where he finished with more wickets than legends Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, the now CEO of Softball NSW still finds time to don the whites.

“I’m playing fourth grade with my son at Sutherland,” the 48-year-old said.

“It’s a bit of fun. The mind still goes at a million miles an hour but physically, it’s beyond me.

“I also coached a lot of the guys in junior cricket, so I think it’s a bit of fun for them too.”

Nursing an injured hamstring, the former spearhead admits to breakouts of white-line-fever while refusing to look beyond next week.

“I’m just a fill in player, but I can’t do it like I used to and it just annoys me,” he said.

“Darkest Day”: Stuart Clark during his only top-grade ton at Old Kings Oval, Parramatta, 2011. Picture: Stephen Davey

Just as any reference to Old Kings Oval upsets one of his great mates.

It was on the banks of the Parramatta River back in 2011, after the sun had set on a distinguished first-class career, that the tailender finally struck gold with the bat.

“I was playing my final year of first grade cricket with Sydney University and ended up getting my only century,” said Clark, reflecting on his knock of 101 off 94 balls scored from No.9 in the order.

“And the first message I got was from a mate calling it the darkest day in cricket, and that any skerrick of credibility the competition had, had basically been ruined because I managed to score a century.

“He’s never let me live it down.

“So every time I go there, I take a photo and send it to him and say, this is where the magic happens.”

Then as if to prove a point. Sophie grabbed the ball, marked out her run and helped St George-Sutherland to an unlikely victory.