NSW Premier Cricket: Stuart Clark’s cricket return with Sutherland to play with son, Lachlan
Former Test quick Stuart Clark, 46, has made a surprise return to Sydney grade cricket after a late Saturday morning call-up saw him feature in his teenage son’s senior cricket debut.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Former Test quick Stuart Clark, 46, has made a surprise return to Sydney grade cricket after a late Saturday morning call-up saw him feature in his teenage son’s senior cricket debut.
The towering pace bowler last featured in NSW Premier Cricket for Sydney University almost a decade ago, when he was crowned player of the match in the 2011/12 first grade grand final after scoring 72 and finishing with figures of 3/37.
A few years earlier, in 2009, Clark was bowling in The Ashes against the likes of Andy Flintoff, Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook as he took his 96th Test scalp.
On Saturday Clark was charging towards the crease in a fifth grade match at Olds Park, Penshurst for his Sutherland Sharks against cross-town rivals St George, counting among his teammates teenage son Lachlan.
The fifth bowler to take the ball, the former Australian international bowled seven overs and finished with figures of 0/15.
Sutherland District Cricket Club president Matt Duff said there had been mutterings of Clark, who is on the club’s committee, joining his son Lachlan for his senior debut with the concept only becoming reality after a late out on the morning of the game.
“With Covid and all these things we had one of our guys pull out on the morning of the game,” he said. “Stuey was going to be at the game watching his son so we said, ‘why don’t you play Stu?”.
“He happily did that and was able to play in his son’s senior debut and they both helped us win – Lachlan got 40-odd and Stuart got us home.”
With St George setting a target of 163, Clark Jr opened the batting and impressed with 40 runs in an 80-run partnership.
His dad entered the innings at 2/102 and took control with an unbeaten 35 as Sutherland chased down the total with one over to spare.
Duff said Stuart Clark, who was a Sutherland junior, has had an active role in coaching and mentoring the club’s younger players.
“It continues his journey from Sutherland junior to playing for Australia and now his son is coming through. It is just great to see,” he said.
The younger Clark recently completed his first under-16 AW Green Shield campaign for Sutherland.
Photo Gallery: Ex-internationals, NRL stars light up RLCC
There were ex-internationals and former NRL stars in action as the opening round of Central Coast rugby league kicked off with a bang. Check out some of the best shots from round one.
From ball boy to 1st Colts rugby for young gun with special passion
It’s as important as skill at times and you would be hard pressed to find a rugby young gun with more passion for the game - and his club - than this 1st Colts player ahead of round two.