Ben Hilfenhaus

For the third season in a row now, the Board President's XI batsmen have done the job of softening up the opposition's spinners ahead of a Test series

Shane Watson cannot be expected to carry the pace attack and then jog inside, pad up and battle the new ball

The paint has barely dried on the neutral honour board at Lord's, but already Ricky Ponting is hoping to get more from his bowlers at Headingley.

Australia were struck by another fitness concern ahead of the Leeds Test after Marcus North failed to train on Monday due to a stomach upset.

Clint McKay has been called in to Australia's squad as cover for Ben Hilfenhaus, who remains in doubt for the second Test in Leeds

Australia are sweating on the fitness of Ben Hilfenhaus ahead of the second Test in Leeds, after the fast bowler hurt his left shoulder diving to save a boundary on the fourth day at Lord's

Plays of the Day from the fourth day of the first Test between Pakistan and Australia at Lord's

Pakistan's stalwart Salman Butt suffered an aberration against the part-time spin of Marcus North, and was stumped down the leg side for 92, as Australia overcame an anxious first hour on the fourth day at Lord's to claim three important wickets in their

Plays of the Day from the third day of the first Test between Pakistan and Australia at Lord's

Teams facing the prospect of a world-record run-chase generally find themselves praying for rain at some stage of the proceedings, but Pakistan have never been the most conventional of outfits

Shane Watson was Australia's unlikely star with the ball, as he claimed 4 for 40 in seven eventful overs to leave Pakistan in deep strife on 141 for 9 by tea on the second afternoon at Lord's

Tim Paine, Ben Hilfenhaus and Ricky Ponting will ensure more than adequate representation for the state, which accounts for only 2% of the nation's population

Australia's coach Tim Nielsen has said the players would have to do their best to adjust to the longer form after their recent ODI and Twenty20 series

In his first game for six months, Ben Hilfenhaus did enough to convince Australia's selectors he deserved a spot in the Test squad

Brad Haddin has until the end of next week to prove his fitness for the two Tests against Pakistan after being named in the 14-man squad

Ben Hilfenhaus sealed a Sri Lanka A capitulation to pace by knocking off their remaining five wickets on the fourth day as Australia A emerged triumphant by 107 runs at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane

Australia A require another five wickets for victory after setting Sri Lanka A 424 to win the opening first-class game of the series

Ben Hilfenhaus' bowling is the most important thing for Australia in this match but it was his batting that dug the A team out of a hole on the opening day against Sri Lanka A

Australia fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus begins his comeback from injury with the Australia A team that will take on Sri Lanka A in the first four-day game at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, from tomorrow