PERTH- Australia's pace attack has been dramatically unsettled by an elbow injury to Stuart Clark which will keep him out of Wednesday's first Test against South Africa in Perth.
Clark's attempts to carry the injury have failed and the 33-year-old NSW right-armer is now considering his options regardingsurgery, possibly with Melbourne-based specialist Greg Hoy.
Clark, 33, fronted the media at the WACA on Sunday after failing to get through a training session and faces the prospect of sitting out the three-Test series against the No.2-ranked Proteas.
Victorian paceman Peter Siddle, who made his Test debut in India in October and was 12th man in last month's second Test against New Zealand in Adelaide, will be rushed to Perth on Sunday if an available flight can be found to join the 12-man squad.
Clark, who boasts a fine record of 90 wickets at 23 in 22 Tests, blames the injury on throwing but says a heavy workload is not the issue.
"I think it's a throwing issue that has just got worse over time," Clark said.
"It's something that hasn't affected me until recently, until I suppose the Indian series (in October-November where Clark missed a Test through injury).
"I've got to go back to Sydney or Melbourne and get the (surgery) process rolling.
"I hope there's another scenario but I don't really know.
"I don't think it's any big secret I've had an elbow injury for a while. It has just flared up."
