Bollinger vows to retain his aggression

Doug Bollinger proved during the Adelaide Test that he is a passionate character on the field and he has enjoyed stepping in to Australia's new-look fast-bowling group in the absence of Ben Hilfenhaus. Australia view Bollinger, Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle as the future of the Test attack, and despite being the oldest of the four, Bollinger is the least experienced in Tests.

That hasn't stopped Bollinger, 28, from voicing his opinion out in the middle. Bollinger said the natural connection between the new fast bowlers helped counter the lack of experience in a line-up that the West Indies coach David Williams said during the Adelaide Test could "be taken apart".

"Sometimes you try and do that on the field, whether it's a good time or a bad time, you like to put your comments in just because you're think you're a bit older and all that," Bollinger said in the Sydney Morning Herald. "We all get along, all four of us, and [with] Troy Cooley the bowling coach have spoken a lot.

"If anything happens we make sure we speak up. It doesn't matter if you've played two games, 100 games, 50 Tests, as long as everyone's putting their input in and doing something for the team. We all got along, myself, Hilfy, Sids and Mitch. I think that's just as good as playing 120 games. As long as we're all connecting."

Before the Adelaide Test, which was his second for Australia, Bollinger described himself as "loud and obnoxious" and his fiery nature was on display when he kicked the turf in anger at an lbw appeal that didn't go his way. It was an action that earned him a reprimand from the match referee, but Bollinger has vowed not to lose his aggressive streak and hopes he and the similarly fiery Siddle can become a fearsome duo.

"Sids is a great fighter," Bollinger said. "He does get fired up, I like it, actually. You're playing for your country, you're not there to make friends, you're there to win and do your best. A bit of fire doesn't hurt anyone. I like it how he gets passionate, that's all I try and do there and if you get a bit angry there, well, that's good. I like to see it.

"[Kicking the ground] was just one of those things that happened. Obviously there's lines that you can't cross in international cricket, and I think I was a little bit frustrated. I just wanted to do well and it all mixed together into a bit of a brain explosion, but that's what happens and I will make sure it doesn't happen again."