Doug Bollinger was viewed as a matchwinner before one bad Ashes Test changed the course of his career.
The abrasive left-arm paceman’s first 11 Tests had seen him pillage 49 wickets at an average of 23.
The selectors rated him so highly they rushed him back into the Test side after the second match of the 2010-11 Ashes series at Adelaide.
Bollinger had been out of action for almost two months due to a stomach strain he suffered in the preceding Test tour of India.
Clearly lacking match fitness, Bollinger battled through 29 overs in that Adelaide Test as England racked up 5-620 in their sole innings.
His figures of 1-130 were awful, though no worse than the returns of Peter Siddle (0-121) or Xavier Doherty (1-158).
After that embarrassing loss for Australia, then skipper Ricky Ponting said Bollinger had “hit the wall” during the side’s marathon stint in the field.
It has since been suggested by some pundits and fans that Bollinger had pulled a heart muscle.
Reporters close to the Australian side suggested as a result of that Test his cards had been marked by the selectors.
In an interview with Fairfax Media in September, Bollinger said he had been disappointed the way he was treated.
“I had one bad Test and everyone labelled me unfit,” he said.
“I’d played 12 Tests and that was probably the worst out of them and I was suddenly labelled this and that.
“[The experience] annoyed me because they didn’t look at my record or what I’d done before. When Ricky said I hit the wall out there, people jumped on it.”
Bollinger has worked his way back into the selectors’ thoughts through lively efforts for NSW this season and last summer.
Along with Western Australia tearaway Nathan Coulter-Nile, he was on standby for the second, third and fourth Ashes Tests this summer.
Australia will likely select a 16-man squad for next month’s tour of South Africa as they did in 2011.
It is probable they will select three pacemen as backups for their experienced frontline attack of Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson.
Australia has a wealth of young fast bowling talent.
But the likes of James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are all injury-prone.
Starc broke down three times in 2013, Bird suffered two serious back injuries last year, Pattinson has missed 16 Tests with injury since debuting two years ago, and Cummins seemingly cannot peek at a cricket ball without suffering physical consequences.
If Pattinson and Bird are included in the Test squad for South Africa, both will have had just a handful of T20 games since returning from lengthy layoffs due to back fractures.
It could be risky for Australia to include both of them given they won’t have played a first-class game in five months.
Bollinger looms as a potential insurance policy for Australia in case of injury to one or more of their veteran starters.
In his four Shield games this summer, Bollinger has showcased pace and precision in taking 17 wickets at 25.
He is also apparently as fit as he has been in his career after undergoing an intensive fitness regime in the winter.
Given Aussie coach Darren Lehmann’s comments last month that Australia was mainly interested in quicks who bowled close to or in excess of 140kmh, it seems Chadd Sayers and Trent Copeland may not be considered for South Africa.
That leaves Bollinger as perhaps the best-credentialed, fully fit backup paceman for that tour.
After three years of wondering how his Test career evaporated, Bollinger would be worthy of the opportunity.
Armchair expert
Guest
It's amazing how anyone could expect either Starc, Cummins, Bird or Pattinson to go to South Africa and be ready to play test cricket without any 1st class cricket for months, especially after Bollinger's last test, they'd be nothing more than net bowlers for at least a month, or in Cummins' case, 12 months.
Rolf
Guest
Bollinger is easily in Australia's top four fast bowlers. He should be Peter Siddle for the third pace bowling position rather than being pushed aside to make way for Coulter-Nile and all these other B-grade children. Cummins, Starc and Pattinson may be good bowlers but if you're going to break down every time you have a bowl their's no point being a Test bowler. If the Australian selectors try and bypass these kids' recovery time just because they show potential - not great talent but potential, then their going to ruin their bodies and set Australian bowling back a decade. I cannot see how any logical person could turn to someone other than Doug Bollinger if Siddle, Harris or Johnson are dropped. Pull your head out of your arse selectors.
Bearfax
Guest
Thanks Ronan. I thought I had missed something.....well I often miss something but I was hoping that I hadnt missed this. So whats your take on the likely result. I've got South Africa 2-1 in a close series. ps I've already shown my expertise with predicting results by suggesting England would win the latest Ashes tour 3-2 or it would be a draw. I did get it right that Oz was on the rise, because I thought the English tour was much closer than 3-0... more like 3-2. But I was never expecting a whitewash. Fortunately I have never been a gambler.
Casey Novak
Roar Rookie
Great Article mate first of all!! On the Dougie point, the bloke should goto South Africa as a back up to Siddle, Johnson and Harris. Pattinson and Bird should be there aswell, but for the time being dont touch Starc or Cummins. On the point of Cummins would the fact that when the bloke was playing Grade Cricket he was restricted to only bowlinga maximum of 8 over spells and 16 overs in a day, because he was under 19. These bowling rules where brought in to STOP YOUNG BOWLERS FROM BREAKING DOWN!! Know when Cummins when to play for NSW and Australia, he was allowed unlimited over spells and no maximums!!! In South Africa, Cummins Bowled over 40 overs that Test!! For NSW he regularly bowled over 40 overs in a first class game. The rule was brought in for young cricketers to protect them!! A young body cant withstand such extremes as bowling at 150kms, for 20+ overs and innings at the age of 19!!! So to combat this should the rule be brought into first class and international cricket????
dantheman
Guest
Yes ! Yes! Yes!,bring him back,he needs the cash influx to keep those endangered species he uses for hairhats on his scone.Near extinct animals don't come cheap
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Not sure Bearfax but it must be soon as they'll be flying out in just over two weeks' time.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Starc is zero chance of making the tour unfortunately Sydney Kiwi. He is still yet to return from his long-term back injury. It is hoped he will be able to play a few Shield games in February and March.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
That's a good post Arto. This is no time to be complacent. A couple of injuries and a form slump or two and Aust could be scrambling for replacements so I wouldn't be writing anyone off.
Arto
Guest
At the risk of becoming blacklisted on this site, it's not that long ago that a number of people on here (including 'gurus'!) were doubting Johnson's place in the Test team (not to mention Rogers, but he's a batsman so we'll keep him out this thread), so maybe people should try to keep some perspective in mind when they comment. As great a series as Johnson had - and his impact can't really be overstated, IMO - we're potential just 1 series away from another round of nervous uncertaintyabout our team, so I wouldn't write off anyone's chances given the somewhat scattergun approach we've had to selecting players recently (especially considering the series after SA is in the Middle East against Pakistan in conditions not too disimilar to India where we got thumped 4-0!!)...
Sydney Kiwi
Guest
Faulkner is no straight replacement for a bowler, once again would take the place of Watson with no preference of his left arm action. The top three pace men should of course be Harris/Johnson and Siddle, the next three should take the same kind of role in the team. SO I am thinking Patterson (if healthy) for Harris, Starc for Johnson and Bird for Siddle. Bolinger may get the nod if Patterson or Starc can't get make it, I don't thin him being a left hander should factor in it. main reason Starc/Patterson/Bird and Bollinger get the nod is they have toured before and know the ropes where someone new would not, but then again it may be good to have someone else in there to have exposure if they are not expected to play the main games. So my 16. Rogers, Warner, Watson, Hughes, Doolan, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Faulkner. Harris, Siddle, Johnson, Patterson, Bird, Starc, Lyon.
Bluebag
Guest
Bert Newton
Beauty of a geek brains of a bimbo(atgm)
Guest
Isnt it Peter george?south australian
The Barry
Roar Guru
I recall his nickname being the bald eagle when he started for NSW...
TonyM
Guest
Even in the BB he is going at around 10-11 runs a over,so I think he doesn't stand a chance of being selected,unless the selectors decided to put him in just solely as a batsman ,which is very unlikely with the current batsman in the Australian side
Bearfax
Guest
Perchance I exaggerate a tad.
Armchair expert
Guest
Then again, they probably need something a bit stronger.
Armchair expert
Guest
That pint of lager would be warm and just for starters.
Armchair expert
Guest
If Doug was outside or below 5-10 quicks he wouldn't of been in the squad for the most recent couple of tests
Bearfax
Guest
Does anyone know when the test squad for South Africa gets selected? Seems they are leaving it a little late to select. What are they waiting for because there's no Shield cricket again until Feb?
Beauty of a geek brains of a bimbo(atgm)
Guest
'Pint of lager' my fav. Sentence