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Sydney: Australia's selectors were taken to task by the Australian press on Saturday after Stuart Clark's devastating return to the bowling lineup helped rout England in the fourth Ashes Test.
Punter's team, trailing 1-0 in the five-match series, roared back into contention, bowling out England for 102 and establishing a 94-run lead with their 196 for four by stumps on the opening day of the Headingley Test.
Peter Siddle captured five wickets for 21 runs in 9.5 overs and Clark three for 18 in 10 overs as the Australians had their best day of the series since dominating the opening Cardiff Test.
But it was the belated appearance of 33-year-old Clark, playing in his first Test since elbow surgery last December, who captured the headlines with a controlled line of attack that Australia's bowling has missed in this series.
"The selectors' inexplicable resistance to Clark prior to Headingley could not have been more emphatically highlighted as a most serious error as England were unable to survive more than 33 overs," The Sydney Morning Herald's Jamie Pandaram said.
"Clark's comeback could not have been more emphatic; 10 overs for 18 runs and three scalps. He was at his miserly best, conceding his first run after 17 deliveries, and beating the bat repeatedly."
Although Siddle produced the best figures, the Herald's Peter Roebuck said Clark was the pick of the Australian bowlers.
"Belatedly recalled and keeping an unerring length, the old trouper probed constantly, making the batsmen play, always asking questions," he said.
"Clark looked his old self, denying the batsmen soft runs, squeezing them tight, drawing them into prods and taking outside edges."
The Daily Telegraph said Clark "stuck it up" the selectors with his mesmerising spell.
"Clark had been the invisible man of Australia's Ashes campaign, inexplicably overlooked for the first three Tests as Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle struggled and went for more than four runs an over," The Telegraph's Ben Dorries said.
"He was back with a vengeance and created the suffocating pressure that Australia has been sadly lacking in England."
ABC radio commentator Jim Maxwell said Clark's overdue return refreshed the tourists' bowling attack.
"In a stunning shift of momentum, triggered by Andrew Flintoff's withdrawal and Matt Prior's back spasm that delayed the toss, England had its worst day of the series," Maxwell said.
"If it can muster a 150-run lead, Australia should be levelling the series on Monday," he said.
The Herald said it was difficult to see England recovering from their first innings debacle.
"It's difficult to see England climbing out of this, having taken so many confidence-shattering blows from Australia, who are finally living up to their number one ranking," it said.
The Australian press was tempered in its reaction to the booing of Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, this time by the Headingley crowd.
"Ponting was booed again as he walked out to bat as Headingley fans ignored the pleas of England cricket bosses to show the Australian skipper some respect," The Daily Telegraph said.
"However, he received warm applause when he walked off the ground as his innings (of 78) lit up the day."
