Bollinger preferred to Hilfenhaus to play South Africa at the SCG
January 2nd, 2009 - 2:59 pm ICT by ANI Sydney, Jan.2 (ANI): New South Wales left-arm pacer Doug Bollinger has won his first cap after being preferred to Tasmanian seamer Ben Hilfenhaus for the third Test against South Africa.
In an apparent horse for courses selection the Australian selectors have opted for Bollinger’’s knowledge and success at his home ground - the SCG - which hosts the Test starting tomorrow.
It will mean Australia will play two left-arm pacers for the first time in nearly 20 years, The Australian reports.
With Brett Lee missing through injury, the modestly-experienced leftie Mitchell Johnson will lead the attack, with Victorian quick Peter Siddle the third fast bowler chosen as Australia attempts to avoid a home series whitewash.
Down 2-0 in the three-Test series the Australians have also included Victorian all-rounder Andrew McDonald to make his debut.
McDonald will bat at No.6 and offer skipper Ricky Ponting a fourth pace bowling option which he did not have in Melbourne due to injury to Andrew Symonds (knee) who has joined Lee on the sidelines.
Ponting said the decision between Bollinger and Hilfenhaus came down largely to the game’’s location.
“That’’s probably a lot to do with his overall skills at the SCG. He knows the conditions very well and will hopefully swing the new ball and late in the innings as well,”” Ponting said.
Australia: M Hayden, S Katich, R Ponting (c), M Hussey, M Clarke, A Symonds, B Haddin, D Bollinger, M Johnson, A McDonald, N Hauritz, P Siddle. 12th man B Hilfenhaus. (ANI)
- Bollinger and Siddle to fight for final pacer slot in Oz team for Ashes opener - Nov 04, 2010
- Oz selectors call up Bollinger, McDonald for Sydney Test - Dec 30, 2008
- CA drops David Hussey, Bracken and Clark from contracted players list - Apr 07, 2010
- Australia to select Ashes squad Wednesday - May 19, 2009
- Uncapped Doherty, Smith in Oz squad in place of Hauritz for first Ashes Test - Nov 20, 2010
- Hastings in Australia's World Cup squad, Siddle dropped - Jan 18, 2011
- Lee makes a comeback, Symonds dropped from Ashes squad - May 20, 2009
- Lee, Hodge named in Oz 30-man 2011 World Cup squad - Dec 17, 2010
- IPL riches may provide some solace for Oz Ashes series failures - Jan 07, 2011
- Strauss, Pietersen on top of Bollinger's Ashes wicket-taking hit list - Nov 17, 2010
- Ponting says he would see a series win as an amazing effort by the boys - Nov 05, 2009
- Australia retain Hayden, name three uncapped players for Sydney Test - Dec 30, 2008
- Clarke to lead Australia in Sydney, Haddin vice-captain (Lead) - Dec 30, 2010
- Hayden may survive, but changes imminent - Dec 30, 2008
- Harris returns to Australia Test squad - Dec 30, 2011
Tags: 12th man, andrew mcdonald, Andrew Symonds, australian selectors, bollinger, brett lee, first cap, m hussey, m johnson, mitchell johnson, new south wales, pace bowling, pacer, play two, ricky ponting, scg, siddle, test series, third test, whitewash