Hilfenhaus is Australia’s next cricket great: McKenzie
By ANISunday, February 14, 2010
MELBOURNE - Australian pace great Graham McKenzie has nominated Tasmanian Ben Hilfenhaus as his country’s next great fast-bowling prospect.
McKenzie said he had been impressed with Hilfenhaus’ swing and impact.
“There’s a group of players there that I think that any of those could come through, and I think in a lot of conditions it’s good to see someone who can swing the ball. There’s where Hilfenhaus has impressed me a lot, he’s done very well with his opportunities,” said McKenzie, who took 246 wickets from his 60 Tests from 1961-71 and sits eighth on the list of the country’s leading wicket-takers.
He said that Peter Siddle had also impressed him.
He said injuries were the lot of a fast bowler, but wondered if Australia’s coaching staff were overly cautious and rested bowlers when they did not need to.
Lawry admitted that during his captaincy, he over-burdened McKenzie, who bowled on average 26 overs an innings in Tests, because of his ability and work ethic.
He described the man affectionately known as Garth as a gentle giant who rarely bowled bouncers at tailenders, who troubled batsmen with the cut he put on the ball and who in 1968, when Lawry became captain, was above all others.
“Graham was without doubt our No.1 striker and the best fast bowler in the world, in my opinion, and at the time he carried the Australian attack,” Lawry said. (ANI)
