Injured Oz pacer Hilfenhaus eyes return against Pakistan
By ANITuesday, April 13, 2010
SYDNEY - Australian pacer Ben Hilfenhaus is still unable to bowl nearly five months after injuring his knee, but is hopeful of fighting his way back into the Test side for the series against Pakistan in July.
The tendonitis affecting Hilfenhaus’s left knee put him out for a week after he broke down in Brisbane in the first Test of last summer.
Hilfenhaus said the injury was far from career-threatening, but has been annoying because of the length of time he has been forced to spend away from the pitch, and he is now targeting a return for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in a four-dayer in Brisbane from June 18.
“It has been very frustrating. When you look at it, I have missed a fair bit of cricket. There is no good time to get injured. It is disappointing, but at the end of the day if it means that my career goes longer, then it will be worth it down the track,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying.
“Not a lot of people know about tendonitis. It is one of those things that develop over time. My worry is deceleration, the impact of stopping after running in to bowl. The tendons don’t like change so I will have to take it slow; hopefully I can walk through my action in a couple of weeks,” Hilfenhaus said.
The Tasmanian quick admitted that it will be tough to get back into the side, having been Australia’s No.1 Test bowler when the series against the West Indies began, with Ryan Harris performing after being called into the squad.
Hilfenhaus was Australia’s best-performing pacer during last year’s Ashes and is desperate to feature in the home series this summer. (ANI)
