Seam bowler Stuart Clark has been overlooked for the Test series against the West Indies.
Seam bowler Stuart Clark has been overlooked for the Test series against the West Indies.

Disappointed Clark not throwing in the towel



Stuart Clark will not draw a line on his top level career despite a back injury keeping him out of Australia's Test series against the West Indies. The seamer, 34, has been overlooked since playing in the Ashes series defeat to England earlier in the year. "It's disappointing not to be in the team but selectors have tough choices sometimes and I'm not always going to agree with what they say," he said.

"If I can come back and bowl well and a spot arises, maybe there's a chance of a return." Clark said he is mystified as to why he has fallen so out of favour in the eyes of the selectors. He has collected 94 wickets in 24 Test matches, but now has a long queue of preferred quicks in front of him. "It would be nice to be in the Australian team, but guys there have done a job and deserve their spot," said Clark.

"It's something I've dealt with, I'm very real about the fact I may never play for Australia again, but the furthest thing from my mind is retirement. I think I've still got something to contribute to NSW cricket and if that's all I do, well, I'll be happy." The planned comeback is on hold until next year, with Clark unable to resume light training until he has given his back time to heal. "Nobody's quite sure what the injury is," he said. "It's more how I feel over the next few weeks that will determine how quickly I can start playing again.

"I still want to play cricket and still have a lot of cricket to go [so the] sooner I get back out there doing something the better. I want to keep playing cricket for another couple of years and potentially go to England in the off-season and play county cricket." The third Test starts tomorrow at the WACA in Brisbane with Australia holding a 1-0 lead over the West Indies after the second Test in Adelaide was drawn.

West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith has signed with New South Wales to play in the Twenty20 Big Bash competition. The 26-year-old has played 10 Test matches and scored a century on debut against South Africa in 2004. But it is in limited-overs cricket where he excels and has represented the West Indies in 71 one-day internationals and five Twenty20 matches. "I'm really excited to be on board with the Blues for the KFC Big Bash," said Smith.

* PA Sport

UAE central contracts

Full time contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid

Part time contracts

Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma

Healthy tips to remember

Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:

Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast

Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits

Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day

Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet

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Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

UAE squad

Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan

Sunday's Super Four matches

Dubai, 3.30pm
India v Pakistan

Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangladesh v Afghanistan

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

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MATCH INFO

South Africa 66 (Tries: De Allende, Nkosi, Reinach (3), Gelant, Steyn, Brits, Willemse; Cons: Jantjies 8) 

Canada 7 (Tries: Heaton; Cons: Nelson)

Sheer grandeur

The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.

A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.

MATCH INFO

Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')

Match info

Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335

Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs