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Strike bowler or workhorse? Ben Hilfenhaus has become both for Australian captain Michael Clarke in the Test series against India and has been a key reason for the home side’s authoritative 2-0 series lead.
Hilfenhaus acknowledges there’ll be days when the wickets don’t come his way and it’s his role to bowl long spells to keep the scoring rate down, allowing other pace bowlers to remain fresh and bowl in short bursts down-wind.
Muscles bulging from beneath his singlet following a training session under the Perth sun, Hilfenhaus is clearly ready for a heavy workload in the third Test starting on Friday.
The 28-year-old Tasmanian has bowled 98.5 overs in the first two Tests; no other bowler on either side has bowled 68.
He’s the leading wicket-taker in the series with 15 victims at an average of 18.06.
While Australia are yet to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Cricket Australia’s selectors already have eyes on next year’s Ashes tour.
Hilfenhaus will be a key weapon for Clarke’s side after claiming 22 wickets at 27.45 on the 2009 Ashes tour.
The swing specialist will also be keen to erase the memory of his seven-wicket haul at an average of 59.28 in four matches of last summer’s home Ashes series loss.
But Hilfenhaus is a different bowler now, having overcome a knee tendinitis problem and re-jigging his action.
“I had a few technical things last year which affected the way I was performing,” said Hilfenhaus, who has claimed 70 wickets at 31.10 in 19 Tests.
“It’s pretty satisfying to be getting on top of them and seeing some improvement.
“Sometimes those niggles change your action without you even knowing.”
He admits it has been been a special thrill to bowl India’s Rahul Dravid – aka “The Wall” – twice in the first two Tests.
“To get through there, it’s pretty rewarding,” Hilfenhaus said.
Like most quicks, Hilfenhaus is enthusiastic about playing at the WACA Ground.
“It’s a good place to bowl. There’s a bit of extra bounce here than other wickets,” Hilfenhaus said.
“Hopefully conditions allow a bit of swing as well.”
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