Hat-trick hero Ben Hilfenhaus has reminded selectors he remains ready for Australian duty if a vacancy for a paceman comes up.
Hilfenhaus produced the first hat-trick of his career against Queensland at Bellerive to help Tasmania grab the upper hand in their Sheffield Shield clash.
The manner of the 30-year-old’s feat was just as impressive – he trapped Bulls skipper James Hopes (12) lbw before clean bowling Ben Cutting (0) and Cameron Boyce (0).
“There was a little bit of reverse swing there so I was hopeful I could sneak one through,” Hilfenhaus said.
“That’s my first ever so it’s quite pleasing to finally get one.”
The veteran, who played 27 Tests, finished with 4-49 to go with the 6-82 he produced against Western Australia last week.
Hilfenhaus played his last Test in December 2012, also in Hobart, and has needed to manage a rib injury since.
His thoughts have not been on a return to international cricket but he does believe he could handle one.
“If there was a call-up, I’d be ready,” he said.
“It would be very hard for anyone to break into that set-up at the moment.”
Hopes said he’d feared the burly Tasmanian could get on a roll when he became hat-trick victim No.1.
“The late dipping yorker, it was good,” Hopes said.
“He can sniff his moment pretty well.”
Hilfenhaus ensured a Queensland first-innings collapse on the morning of day three, the Bulls losing 7-47 to be bowled out for 183 in reply to Tasmania’s 350.
Hopes then gave his side a sniff, reducing the Tigers to 6-60 in their second dig on his way to 5-59.
But with Bulls paceman Cutting (hamstring) unable to bowl, the home side’s tail wagged again and they declared at 9-165.
Chasing 333 to win on a slow pitch, the Bulls were 1-11 at stumps, having lost Joe Burns who top-scored with an unbeaten 91 in the first innings.
Hopes said their chase would need to be better than the 5-471 they made last game to beat South Australia.
“It’s gettable but we’re going to have to bat out of our skin,” he said.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Michael Hogan is one of the leading bowlers every year in the Shield but no one has ever shown the slightest interest in him. I've always found that odd. He and Luke Butterworth seem to have been marked down as too slow or too mediocre for some reason.
Dan Ced
Roar Rookie
C'mon, Sayers has had 1.5 seasons of competition leading figures. Sayers should be the next into the team if Siddle starts underperforming. I guess Hilf could cover an injured Harris but Bollinger was more recently training with the squad and is probably in their minds.. and is in decent form also.
jameswm
Guest
Rainbird got more wickets for Tassie.
Axle an the guru
Guest
I dont think he will make the test team again unless maybe a tour of England an thats only cause he can swing the ball. There are to many young blokes for him to compete with. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Nudge
Guest
Yeah you would imagine He is about 8th in line at the moment. Did a more than solid job for Australia over the years, but he needs a huge dose of luck to play again
NORDBURG
Guest
So you're saying he would of jumped the queue of fast bowlers for a test spot based on a hattrick that claimed the wickets of an ageing all rounder,an overated bowler who some claim is an all rounder and a leg spinner?Please -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.