Bollinger’s triumphant SCG homecoming
By ANISaturday, January 2, 2010
SYDNEY - Left-arm pacer Doug Bollinger returns to his home ground-the Sydney Cricket Ground-as a potent force a year after making his Test debut.
He will bowl Australia’s first over in the second Test against Pakistan, beginning tomorrow and is a major component in the home side’s hopes of wrapping up the series after a strong win in Melbourne last Wednesday, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
Bollinger only managed a recall when Ben Hilfenhaus broke down with a long-term knee injury, but in a few short weeks has made competition for places in the team’s fast bowler armoury white-hot.
Since his return to the Test team, Bollinger is the second-most successful bowler in world cricket.
His 18 wickets at an average of 19 apiece in three Tests is surpassed only by Mitchell Johnson’s 19 at 24.
Captain Ricky Ponting could not be more impressed.
“With Hilfy on the sidelines Doug has been terrific since he got back into the Test team,” Ponting told The Weekend Australian.
“He made his debut in the Sydney Test last year then went out of the side for quite a while and got his opportunity in dribs and drabs in one-day cricket. He’s impressed with his one-day cricket, and now to come back into the side the way he has, for him and Mitch to bowl as well as they have in the last few games, they’re two great weapons for us,” Ponting added.
“There are not too many around who can do what they can do,” Ponting said. (ANI)
