da leao： He’s done the hard yards and bided his time; his chance may finally have arrived
da marjack bet： Brydon Coverdale26-Feb-2009
Hilfenhaus knows a thing or two about hard work © Getty Images
When Australian cricket fans talk about the twelfth man it’s a fairbet they’re referring to the comedian Billy Birmingham. Or maybe AndyBichel, who carried the drinks a record 19 times in Tests. Over thepast couple of years they might have been speaking of Ben Hilfenhaus,who has been slowly chipping away at Bichel’s mark. Four timesHilfenhaus has been called into Australia’s Test squad without gettinga game.The day before the Wanderers Test, Hilfenhaus was nervously waiting tofind out if it would be five from five. He was in the 12 and thehumid, cloudy conditions would suit his swing bowling but the wholesituation was frustratingly familiar. A round of golf – Hilfenhaus hasa useful handicap of seven – with the touring selector David Boon andthe coach Tim Nielsen didn’t shed any light on matters.”I’m really just looking forward to getting the first Test out of theway and going from there,” Hilfenhaus said, hoping that moment wouldcome in Johannesburg. “Getting your baggy green is every kid’s dream.I’d be really excited just to get that and hopefully if I do I’ll justtry and do everything I can to represent it well.”Since he first made it into a Test squad in November 2007 there havebeen setbacks, notably back stress fractures that stopped him fromembarking on his first Test tour when Australia set off for the WestIndies last year. There have been disappointments as other fast mensuch as Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle overtook him in the peckingorder. Hilfenhaus didn’t complain. He’s not that sort of bloke.He worked as a labourer for a bricklayer when he first moved to Hobartand then took on a different type of back-breaking toil when he sentdown 509 Sheffield Shield overs two years ago – nearly 200 more thanany other state fast bowler. It was a tally that led to concerns overhis workload and the worries only increased when his injury arrivedthe following year to end his Caribbean dream.”In a way it was [frustrating],” Hilfenhaus said. “It’s verydisappointing when you get selected and you find out that you’reinjured. At the end of the season I actually didn’t feel that bad butgeneral check-up scans revealed otherwise. I probably see myself moreas a bloke who bowls a lot of overs. That’s a role that I enjoy.”Clearly Hilfenhaus knows a thing or two about hard work. He impressedthe coaches during his stay at the Centre of Excellence for beingprepared to tackle any problem head-on. When critics began to questionhis ability to take wickets when the ball failed to swing away, hewent off and worked on some new tricks.”If you’ve only got one tool in your bag, you get a bit predictable,”he said. “I’ve definitely worked on a few different things to counterfor that and hopefully have an answer when blokes start getting ontop. As well as the outswing I’m trying to develop one that goes in alittle bit or straightens. Just to keep them guessing a little bit.There’s a couple of different slower balls that I’m working on.” He worked as a labourer for a bricklayer when he first moved to Hobartand then took on a different type of back-breaking toil when he sentdown 509 Sheffield Shield overs two years ago – nearly 200 more thanany other state fast bowler But for Hilfenhaus the outswinger is still king. The conditions inHobart usually help him bend the ball in the air and the humidity andcloud cover in South Africa will do the same. Then of course there isthe Ashes tour later this year. A swing bowler who can hurl the balldown with genuine speed could be a major weapon in England. If allgoes to plan, 2009 could be the making of Ben Hilfenhaus.If that turns out to be the case, it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.The son of a plumber from Ulverstone in country Tasmania, he calls hisfather, Hans, “the old man” and would like it if he could be in SouthAfrica should a debut arise but thinks it’s a bit far to travel.There’s not a hint of cockiness in Hilfenhaus, who speaks openly butsuccinctly, with only the faintest trace of a rural Aussie drawl.”I still see myself as pretty laidback,” he said. “I don’t like toover-analyse anything. Just enjoy my cricket and when I’m not playingcricket I enjoy playing golf and spending time with my girlfriend.”That he has a girlfriend no doubt disappoints the women who snapped upthis year’s Men of Cricket calendar. Hilfenhaus, who wouldn’t look outof place taking over from Hugh Jackman as the drover in the film, features as Mr September and shows off a set ofmuscles that would rival anyone in the Australian set-up.His mother, Lynette, was so happy with the charity production that shegave the calendar pride of place in the family kitchen. It might haveto be moved aside if a photo of Ben in a baggy green becomesavailable.