Greg Chappell: Ben Hilfenhaus still has a lot to offer to Australian cricket
Australian selector Greg Chappell has stated that the selection committee in the country still has an eye of fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus, who was left out of the team after a poor performance in the Ashes series at the start of the year.
The right-armer, who is touted as one of the few international bowlers in the modern game possessing a sharp out swinger, did not play in the ICC World Cup 2011 where Australia, the defending champions, were knocked out in the quarterfinals
by eventual Champions http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
The selection panel has included him in the Australian A team that is set to tour next month, Chappell believes that Hilfenhaus would be both http://www.senore.com/Cricket/A-Mentor-c41238 to the attack comprising some raw fast bowlers, besides being the leader of the pack.
The intention is also to get him in good condition for the series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 later in the year.
"I think everyone, including Ben, was disappointed with his form in the summer, but we're pretty confident he's still got a lot to offer, and the fact that he's a senior player [helps]. I was with the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 A team up in Townsville
and Ben was there, and the work he did with Mitchell Starc and some of the other young pace bowlers was excellent," said Chappell.
Hilfenhaus started the Ashes dramatically; he sent the English captain Andrew Strauss packing in the first over of the first Test at Gabba in Brisbane, however, his performance nose dived and he had to struggle big time as the English
batsmen piled on the runs on their way to a historic 3-1 win in the five-match series.
Chappell added that Hilfenhaus would have the attention of the selection panel that wants to bring him in the reckoning for the longer format of the game, he also revealed that the A tour would be utilized to hone the skills of young fast
bowlers like Mitchell Starc.
Chappell added, "He's a pretty solid citizen to have around the group and it helps him continue his build-up towards the various tours and series we've got coming up in the next few months. As we know pace bowling is fraught with danger
and you need a handful of them up and about."
The right-armer, with 55 wickets in 17 Test matches, knows well that he would have to step up to the plate and deliver on the A tour if he is to make an impression on the team management, who have the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Peter
Siddle placed above Hilfenhaus in the pecking order for the Sri Lankan series.
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