If one word sums up the days of Australian Test bowlers Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Lyon at Bellerive on Friday, it’s probably ‘frustration’.
Tasmanian paceman Hilfenhaus’s exasperation was there for all to see when he had two simple catches grassed on day two of the Sheffield Shield match between the Tigers and South Australia.
Spinner Lyon didn’t ball a ball in the Tasmanian first innings of 138 with the green-tinged pitch and cool conditions favouring the seamers.
Hilfenhaus is trying to readjust to red-ball cricket, having not played the long form of the game since April, and bowled 22 overs in the Redbacks’ second innings on Friday.
He finished with 1-80, needing to take a catch himself off his bowling to get a wicket after Ed Cowan and Mark Cosgrove had put down straightforward chances.
The big swing bowler’s body language said everything as he kicked the ground, looked skyward and trudged back to his mark.
“He was going pretty well towards the end of his spell today and he’s bowled 20-odd overs and there were some good signs there for him,” Tigers coach Tim Coyle said.
“It’s all about getting some rhythm.
“I don’t care who you are, it takes time.
Lyon, also trying to find some form after taking just six wickets in Shield cricket this season, could feature as the match heads into day three and the pitch wears.
The Redbacks have given themselves a chance of ending a horror-run of zero outright victories since November 2010 – when they beat Tasmania at Bellerive.
A fighting 75 from 18-year-old Travis Head and a quick 50 from Dan Christian helped them to a handy lead of 199 at 7-225 in their second innings.
Earlier in the day they had taken 7-75, with Chadd Sayers bagging 4-29, to restrict Tasmania’s lead to just 26.
Christian, who was part of that last winning side, is confident.
“More balls are going up and down, (the pitch is) drying out, cracks are getting bigger,” he said.
“Anything over 200’s going to be a really good score.”
Redbacks skipper Johan Botha will resume on 17 not out with Sayers six.
Tigers seamer Jackson Bird has been their best in the second innings with figures of 3-48.