By Laine Clark
November 29th 2009 @ 12:51am
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Ponting full of praise for “unheralded” Hilfenhaus
He slammed a fan survey result before the first Test match claiming Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke was the nation’s most overrated cricketer.
But in the wake of his team’s three day Test win over the West Indies in Brisbane, skipper Ricky Ponting has made his own claim, saying he has found the game’s “most unheralded” – Ben Hilfenhaus.
The 26-year-old Tasmanian quick earned man of the match honours despite nabbing just five wickets for the game – but it was quality over quantity.
Twice he trapped Windies talisman Chris Gayle LBW in the match.
And the former brickies labourer reduced the Windies’ hopes of survival to rubble by tearing the heart out of their second innings with a spell of 3-20 on Saturday.
Yet Ponting still felt compelled to sing the unassuming Hilfenhaus’ praises after the innings and 65-run win.
Especially with the spotlight shining on teenager Adrian Barath after he became the youngest Windies player to notch a Test ton.
“Ben … over the last 12 months, has probably been the most unheralded of the guys,” Ponting said.
“But you look back at the last few series that he has played and he has done a great job for us.
“There’s no doubt that he was the standout bowler in the Ashes for us.
“And he has started this summer off really well.”
Certainly stats don’t quite do justice to Hilfenhaus, who took 5-70 in the first Test in Brisbane.
He was a key bowler in Australia’s shock 2-1 Test series win in South Africa yet averaged 52.28 with the ball, snaring just seven wickets.
A better indication of his worth is given by his Ashes return of 22 wickets at 27.45.
Hilfenhaus – playing just his ninth Test and his first in Australia in Brisbane – said he had only felt part of the team in England.
“I guess towards the end of the Ashes series, I felt I was doing a job for the team,” Hilfenhaus said.
“That’s when I felt a bit more comfortable and knew my role a bit better as well.”
Ponting said the last two series had helped transform Hilfenhaus into a bowler for all conditions.
“(But) today I guess I am even more pleased for him,” he said.
“I sort of put it on him to try and get Gayle out the way that he did.
“When you can ask a bowler to do a certain job and he can do it regardless of what the situation of the game is or the conditions … that means that they are executing really well.
“That’s what you want as a captain.”
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