It looked as though England had ended Doug Bollinger’s Test career three years ago, but the fiery fast bowler sent an emphatic message to Australian selectors on Thursday at Blacktown.
“I’m not dead,” declared Bollinger, who claimed 6-34 in the Sheffield Shield opener against Tasmania.
Bollinger was brilliant in slow conditions on day two, with his reverse swing cutting through the Tasmanian line-up to leave the visitors in a precarious position at 9-195 at stumps.
NSW were bowled out for 288 in their first innings and are in the box seat with the wicket set to become increasingly difficult to bat on.
Bollinger has already had a conversation with Australian coach Darren Lehmann, who told the left-hander he likes his aggression and would come back on the radar with wickets to his name.
The 32-year-old certainly followed instructions on Thursday, on track to better his best first-class figures of 6-47.
Australia’s fast bowling stocks have been plagued by injury ahead of the Ashes, leaving an opening alongside Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris for the first Test at the Gabba.
Selectors have shown in the past they like to include the variety of a left-armer in their arsenal, and Mitchell Starc’s injury improves Bollinger’s stocks even if Mitchell Johnson is the favourite to join the attack for Brisbane.
Bollinger’s fitness has been criticised in the past, but the larrikin quick says he’s in prime nick given the hectic Shield schedule confronting NSW over the coming weeks.
He hasn’t played Test cricket since he struggled in Adelaide against England in 2010, but says he hasn’t given up hope of a recall.
“It would be nice to get a call up. It would be an honour, but let’s finish this game and see how I go in the next game,” he said.
“I am not dead. I feel pretty good and the way I went today, who knows? I have just got to keep doing my best and see what happens.
“(Lehmann) said that good old cliche that batters get runs and bowlers get wickets and the rest looks after itself and that’s what I am trying to do.”
Bollinger claimed Tigers opener Jordan Silk before tearing through the middle order, knocking over Jonathan Wells, Ben Dunk, Tim Paine before also getting stuck into the tail.
The Tigers were boosted by a 77-run second wicket partnership between Alex Doolan (56) and Ed Cowan (24), and were 4-160 before NSW hit-back, with a little bit of help from the Tasmanians themselves.
No.5 batsman Dunk suffered the unusual embarrassment of being given out hit wicket, slipping and stepping back on his middle-stump after he was stood-up by a quick delivery at the body by Bollinger.
Bollinger went for just 1.78 runs from 19 overs with seven maidens.
Josh Hazlewood, Steve O’Keefe and Trent Copeland also took a wicket each for the Blues, after Tasmanian rookie Sam Rainman had earlier wrapped up the NSW tail to finish with a six-wicket haul in just his second Shield match.