Brisbane (Australia), Mar. 16: Injured Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark has signed a six-week deal to play English county cricket with Kent in the hope of making it back to the national squad for the Ashes this year.

Clark had elbow surgery at the start of the summer then was forced to miss the South African tour because of another flare-up.

Desperate to churn through some overs ahead of the opening Ashes in Cardiff in July, the 33-year-old Clark said the brief stint with Kent was the perfect chance to reignite his ambitions.

"For me this move is vital because I''ll need the miles in the legs," said Clark, who took another three-wicket haul for Sydney University over the weekend.

"The elbow feels excellent, there''s no soreness, swelling and it feels as good as new. I think I''ve done enough over the years to suggest I can obviously play, it''s just a matter of being right when it''s time to go. At the end of the day it''s not my decision (to be selected), but I know I''ve got something to offer," the Daily Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

Clark said there was no reason he and Brett Lee, also returning from injury, could not return to the attack ahead of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, the rookie trio who in recent weeks destroyed South Africa, making sure Australia retain their No. 1 Test ranking.

Clark hasn''t played England in England but he had stints with Hampshire and Middlesex, and got 26 wickets against the Poms, averaging 17.03, when Australia reclaimed the Ashes in 2006. (ANI)