Gloucester wait on Clark visa

Gloucestershire have confirmed they are awaiting a visa for Stuart Clark before finalising a short-term deal for the Australia paceman.

In a move that is likely to reopen the debate about whether English counties should be signing Australian players ahead of the Ashes, Clark is set to ink a deal that will most likely see him play two LV County Championship matches for the county.

The period of Clark's contract will coincide with the absence of James Franklin, Gloucestershire's current overseas signing, while he is playing in the World Twenty20 with New Zealand.

"We are just waiting for a visa for Stuart Clark before we can confirm the deal," a spokeswoman told PA Sport.

"But we have been in negotiations and would hope he gets the visa."

Clark is in need of match practice ahead of the Ashes, which start on July 8, after a long injury lay-off following elbow surgery.

The New South Welshman had caused a stir when he signed short-term deal with Kent at the start of the season, although that was terminated after he was selected to make a return to Australia's team for the limited overs series with Pakistan in United Arab Emirates earlier this month.

Clark was, however, overlooked for Australia's World Twenty20 squad to create a window for him to sign with Gloucestershire.