Perth, Jan 11 : Australian pacer Ben Hilfenhaus could be playing his last Test of the summer this week in Perth and should be rested for the series finale in Adelaide, according to his coach.
Allister de Winter, who helped Hilfenhaus rebuild his bowling action during winter, said selectors should consider resting the 28-year-old after the third Test in order to have him fresh for the tour of the Caribbean after the Australian summer.
De Winter, who ran a close second to Craig McDermott to become Australia’s bowling coach, said it would be the ideal opportunity to rest Hilfenhaus should Michael Clarke’s side wrap up the series with either a draw or another victory at the WACA Ground.
“He needs to play in Perth. Whether he needs to then go to Adelaide on the back of it would be a red flag for me. If he bowls 40 overs in Perth I’d be asking … whether he needs to play in Adelaide where the wicket doesn’t suit him,” De Winter said.
Cricket Australia has implemented a rotation policy for its fast bowlers in order to build a larger pace battery to cope with a busy international schedule, The Syndey Morning Herald reports.
Hilfenhaus, the leading wicket-taker this series, has bowled 98 overs in the past two Tests, more than any other Australian.
“If they win the series in Perth, they then have the opportunity to rest one or two of the fast bowlers. You might play Ryan Harris, you might play Mitchell Starc, you might play somebody else,” De Winter said.
De Winter, along with the Tasmanian coaching staff, worked closely with Hilfenhaus after the bowler was dumped from the Test side following a poor Ashes series.
© ANI
