Hilfenhaus worth rushing back

Ben Hilfenhaus didn't have to do much to prove he was ready to return to the Test squad to face Pakistan in England. He is so valuable to Australia's plans he doesn't need to. Over four days in a minor game for Australia A, his first in six months, he showed his exceptional swing-bowling qualities were untainted by the lay-off and that his troublesome knee was holding up.

Hilfenhaus' sentences are shorter than his economical run-up but after taking 5 for 63 in the second innings against Sri Lanka A he said his body had handled the four-day load and the performance was "all very solid". If the situation is as good as that everyone who follows Australian cricket should be as happy as Hilfy.

In less than a year he grew from Test novice to calm and reliable performer, becoming the leading bowler in the 2009 Ashes disappointment and gaining the Man-of-the-Match prize against West Indies at the Gabba. It was his first appearance in a baggy green at home, but the subsequent debilitating tendonitis ended his season. His next chance to perform in front of a local audience is in Brisbane for the Ashes.

Other bowlers have emerged over the past year but none offer what Hilfenhaus does: consistent outswing, off-cutters and exceptional control usually delivered in the 140kphs. Extreme fast bowlers are the game's pin-ups but guys like Hilfenhaus are lauded for their prowess at being a constant threat to all batsmen, most of the time.

At Allan Border Field on Monday his final wicket pitched on middle and leg before clipping the top of off stump. It was an excellent sign for his recovery, even if the batsman was a No.11.

Despite having played only nine Tests and taken 34 wickets at 30.58, Hilfenhaus deserves the special treatment afforded to him by the selectors. There is another Australia A match in Townsville later this week and a tour game against Derbyshire before the opening Test begins on July 13. England is a perfect environment for Hilfenhaus, especially against the Pakistanis, who waft unconvincingly when the ball swings or seams. Most importantly, it should set him up for the main event at the end of the year.

Hilfenhaus will be needed for early England wickets with the new ball before long spells in support of the more destructive Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle or Ryan Harris. He is the perfect ally in an Ashes series, as long as his knee problem is managed.

Injuries have had an impact on the 14-man squad for the Pakistan Tests at Lord's and Leeds next month. Some players, such as Hilfenhaus and Usman Khawaja, have elbowed their way in while two elbows have been holding a couple of men back. Brad Haddin's left arm, which has been worn down over the past couple of years, hampers his batting but not his keeping and he faces more fitness battles to confirm his spot before the departure on July 2.

Johnson has had a lingering infection in his right arm, which was painted with an intricate tattoo before the World Twenty20. He has been cleared for a return to England, the venue of an awful Ashes series last year due to a mixture of family and technical problems.

Both Johnson and Hilfenhaus have things to prove over the duration of the tour. Johnson needs to show his 2009 Ashes form was a never-to-be-repeated blemish while Hilfenhaus has to convince himself that his body can cope with the international workload.