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Hilfenhaus replaces Lee in ODI squad

Ben Hilfenhaus, the leading wicket-taker in Australia's Test series victory over India, has been recalled to the national ODI squad to replace the injured Brett Lee

Daniel Brettig
Daniel Brettig
06-Feb-2012
Ben Hilfenhaus picked up eight wickets in the match, Australia v India, 3rd Test, Perth, 3rd day, January 15, 2012

Ben Hilfenhaus' Test match exploits have vaulted him back into the ODI squad  •  Getty Images

Ben Hilfenhaus, the leading wicket-taker in Australia's Test series victory over India, has been recalled to the national ODI squad to replace the injured Brett Lee - his first limited overs duty in more than two years.
The national selector John Inverarity and his panel chose an experienced name to cover for Lee rather than picking another youthful pace bowler, affording Hilfenhaus the chance to play his first 50-over internationals since a tour of India in late 2009.
On that tour Hilfenhaus suffered from knee tendinitis that would subsequently keep him out of international cricket for most of the 2009-10 season, and had been employed exclusively in Test matches since.
While naming Hilfenhaus, Inverarity suggested the XI for the Perth match against Sri Lanka on Friday was likely to be unchanged from the one that defeated India in Melbourne on Sunday. However Hilfenhaus may play in the third match, against India in Adelaide on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.
"The NSP has named Ben Hilfenhaus in the squad for the game against Sri Lanka in Perth on Friday," Inverarity said. "Ben will replace the injured Brett Lee. The bowling attack for Perth is likely to be the same as the one that did so well in Melbourne and Ben will be in Perth to provide cover."
Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle have been resting in reserve since the completion of the Test series, which reaped 27 wickets at 17.22 for the Tasmanian after he was recalled for the Boxing Day Test.
Siddle (23 wickets at 18.65) is likely to come into contention for the second half of the ODI series, his exertions in nine consecutive Test matches deemed worthy of a longer break than Hilfenhaus' four.
As previously flagged by the selectors, Mitchell Marsh will join the ODI squad after the completion of the Sheffield Shield fixture between Queensland and Western Australia at the Gabba. Two of the other mooted contenders for Lee's spot, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Alister McDermott, are also taking part in the match.

Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here