Bollinger puts his hand up for Ashes selection

SYDNEY - New South Wales tearaway Doug Bollinger has declared himself fit for Ashes selection with a telling spell at the Rosedale Oval here, ahead of the naming of the Australian squad on Monday.

Bollinger, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle are in the frame to launch the opening salvos for skipper Ricky Ponting when the Ashes campaign starts at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 25.

Bollinger claimed 1-30 from 10 overs for Fairfield.

“My body is fine. I bowled seven overs in the SCG nets on Wednesday flat out and at 100 per cent, and it felt great. I’m ready to play for Australia,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Bollinger, as saying.

“People might think it’s ‘pressure’ to be picked for Australia [after injury]. I think it’s more about responsibility, going out and doing the best for your country. I don’t feel as if I have anything to lose when I play because when I represent Australia, it [instead] gives me the opportunity to do the best I can,” he added.

“I enjoy being called a ‘cult figure’ because there’s a lot of worse things you could be called, isn’t there?” he said.

He added: “I take that to mean people see I enjoy doing what I do, and I do love it. Playing for Australia is what I have wanted to do all my life.”

Bollinger, 29, has claimed 49 wickets from his 11 Tests, he is proud to be rated in the ICC’s top 10 fast bowlers for the Tests and limited-overs formats. (ANI)