Melbourne, Mar 18 (ANI): Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark, who has been plagued with injury problems, has glimpsed a silver lining in the emergence of a strong new generation of fast bowlers.

Clark (34) has abandoned a planned stint in English county cricket to preserve his hopes of playing with and against them next summer.

He has decided that even if his international career has finished, he wants to continue with New South Wales, where he has helped nurture developing quicks such as Trent Copeland and Josh Hazlewood, The Age reports.

With Cricket Australia-contracted bowlers Clark, Brett Lee, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Nathan Bracken injured for major part of the summer, the country’s pace depth has been tested and the states have had no choice but to blood new pacers.

Cutting, George and Copeland, all aged under 25, fill the first three places on the shield list and are regarded as future Test pacemen.

“I pulled out of [English country team] Kent. I want to keep playing cricket in Australia next year, even if it’s only domestically, and going to England was just going to set me back a couple of months, where I am better off having the time off and getting ready to play cricket next year,” Clark said.

Copeland has been compared with Clark and Glenn McGrath because of his nagging length and subtle seam and swing, and recently signed a three-year state deal with NSW.

He produced the second-best figures by a Blues bowler on debut, with 8-92 against Queensland.

Cutting has 43 wickets at 22.53 for the Bulls, who have also introduced Scott Walter and Alister McDermott. (ANI)