Cult hero Bollinger, a legend in the making

Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 26 (ANI): Fast bowler Doug Bollinger is a popular figure both inside and outside of the Australian dressing room.

He is a cult hero in his own team. His whole journey to the top of Australian cricket defies belief.

He played his first game of cricket at the age of 15 and he mucked around on artificial grass pitches for Seven Hills until he was 20.

A late introduction to the Sydney grade premiership was followed by acceleration into the Sheffield Shield. And now, he has the respect of Test captain Ricky Ponting.

“You’re on the field, you’re playing for your country, you’re not going to take it lightly,” the Sydney Morning Herald quotes Bollinger, as saying of his approach to bowling.

“I was playing with my mates in the park when I was 20. So, this is all a dream for me. I just thought I’d have a crack and it snowballed a bit and here we are,” he adds.

“Your first Test you’re like, ‘What do I do?’ But two or three in and you tell yourself you’re here to do a job. You’ve got to show you’re enthusiastic. You’ve got to prove you deserve to be here,” Bollinger said.

“I love being around this group of blokes, actually getting to put the baggy green on, hopefully contributing to a few wins and having people actually wanting to come out and watch us play,” he adds.

Bollinger will again be Australia’s pace spearhead when the second Test against New Zealand begins in Hamilton tomorrow.

He has captured 34 wickets in his first seven Tests.

There aren’t any Australian bowlers who have done that. That is the extent to which The Legend of Douglas Bollinger has grown. (ANI)