Paceman Doug Bollinger has been called into Australia's squad heading to the West Indies.
Left-arm fast bowler replaces injured Hilfenhaus
New South Wales seamer Doug Bollinger has been called into Australia's touring party heading to the West Indies.
Bollinger will replace Ben Hilfenhaus, who has withdrawn from the squad after being diagnosed with a recurrence of a stress fracture in his lower back.
Left-armer Bollinger is in line to make his debut for the country during the series in May if he can prove he has fully recovered from a foot injury.
Opportunity
"Obviously this is very disappointing for Ben," said chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch. "However, given the amount of cricket facing the Australian side in all forms of the game over the next 18 months, a conservative approach to the management of his back injury is best to ensure he makes a full recovery.
"This presents a great opportunity for Doug Bollinger who had a great season for New South Wales until injury ruled him out of the last couple of games of the season.
"Doug has made a full recovery and has resumed training and will be ready to take his place at the Brisbane training camp in preparation for the Test tour of the West Indies."
Cricket Australia physio Alex Kountouris is also backing Bollinger to be fully fit.
"Doug has recovered well from his fractured foot," he said. "He has been bowling for the last couple of weeks with no complaints and, as long as he completes the final fitness test, we believe he will be fully fit to take part in the Test tour of the West Indies."
Rehab
Kountouris also says Hilfenhaus had complained of lower back soreness towards the end of the Pura Cup season.
"Ben had some lingering back pain towards the end of the Pura Cup season and recent scans have revealed a possible recurrence of an old stress fracture to the vertebrae," Kountouris added.
"As such he is not able to bowl and is therefore ineligible for the tour of the West Indies.
"His recovery will involve not bowling for the next few months but continuing on with a rehabilitation and strength program.
"We believe this will be his best preparation for the beginning of the 2008-09 season."
The Aussies take on the Windies in a three-Test series from May 22 at Sabina Park, while the five match one-day series begins on June 24 in St Vincent.
