ADELAIDE, Australia, CMC – Fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus, who helped Australia whip West Indies in the first Test at the Gabba, has been ruled out of the second Test later this week because of a knee injury. His place in the squad will be taken by Clint McKay.
Hilfenhaus had been expected to recover in time to make the trip to Adelaide for Friday’s game, but Australia’s medical staff said yesterday the fast bowler has now been advised to rest ahead of the third and final Test in Perth on December 16.
Hilfenhaus claimed the Man-of-the-match honours at the Gabba last week with a match haul of five for 70.
“Ben Hilfenhaus has had a widely-reported knee tendon injury that was sore during the recent ODI series in India and the first 3 mobile Test at the Gabba,” said Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.
“The demands of Test cricket have made it harder to manage Ben’s injury, so it’s been decided that the best course of action is for him to miss the Adelaide Test,” Kountouris added.
Kountouris said the pacer will undergo an intense period of rehabilitation over the next two weeks with a view to him being available for selection for the third Test.
Andrew Hilditch, Australia’s selection chairman of selectors, said McKay, who was called into the Australian ODI squad on the recent tour of India, has earned his spot.
“Clint impressed all with his performances in India with the one-day squad and with his bowling for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield this year. We also feel his style of bowling will be well-suited to the conditions in Adelaide should he be selected in the starting XI.”
West Indies will also be without a key bowler in Adelaide after it was confirmed Sunday that pacer Jerome Taylor is returning home early from the tour because of a hip injury.
Australia squad – Ricky Ponting (captain), Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger, Clint McKay.