Australian left-arm paceman Doug Bollinger is eyeing a big finish to the season with Kent after missing almost a month with a shoulder injury.

And he’s hoping a haul of wickets will send a message to his national selectors – he’s still got what it takes to play at the highest level.

Bollinger has taken 50 wickets at an average of 25.92 in 12 Test appearances since making his debut against South Africa at the SCG in January 2009.

He’s also played 39 ODIs and two Twenty20s but the New South Welshman is determined his international playing days are not over.

Bollinger, who was placed on standby during the Ashes series in Australia last winter, said: “I may have celebrated my 33rd birthday last week but I am not dead and
buried. I’d love to play for Australia again.

“To do that, I have got to bowl well and keep taking wickets (he has taken 41 for Kent in all forms to-date) and if I can do that, well, who knows what might happen.
“Australia have a big summer ahead and I’d love to feature in it.”

Bollinger made a welcome return to the Kent line-up in the NatWest T20 Blast clash against Surrey at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, last Friday.
It was his first appearance since he played against Gloucestershire in the same competition in Bristol on June 27.

He went wicket-less against Surrey, bowling two overs for 19, in the 21-run win – but at least he was back charging in as he always does.

Bollinger said it felt good to be back, saying he felt refreshed after his break.
He said: “I’d been on the bounce (on the go) for two years and this shoulder niggle gave me the chance to get away from the game and re-charge the batteries.

“It (the break) has been good to get the body right. Now I am raring to go again.”

Kent now face a hectic schedule in the Royal London One Day Cup, giving Bollinger the chance to play 50-over cricket for the first time in a while.

He last featured in the format when he played for NSW in the Ryobi Cup final defeat against arch rivals Queensland at the North Sydney Oval on October 27 last year.

Asked whether he and his Kent team-mates could feature in the final of this competition, Bollinger said: “If we can get off to a good start, there is no reason why we cannot be in contention.”