Bollinger to keep quiet against Pietersen

Doug Bollinger is never shy of giving out a few words to the batsmen, but he plans to offer Kevin Pietersen the silent treatment when the Ashes gets underway next month. Bollinger is confident that he is on track to recover from his stomach injury in time for the first Test in Brisbane on November 25 after returning early from the tour of India.

If Bollinger regains fitness he is likely to slot straight back into the team having taken 49 wickets at 23.79 in 11 Tests, but he has no plans to chirp at Pietersen even though the batsman has been going through an extended form slump and has scored an international hundred since March 2009.

"I don't think I will say much to Kevin Pietersen because I think that's what he likes," Bollinger told AAP. "I think I might put him off his game by not saying anything and let his ego get him out."

However, the rest of England's batting line-up won't escape some words of advice from Bollinger should he be ready to share the new-ball. "I tend to say a lot of things when I get angry and get a bit upset and a bit hot and flustered, but we're playing for the Ashes," he said.

"It's a massive thing. It's something I've always wanted to be part of my whole life and I'm sure it is for everyone else. So if one of the guys gets into a contest I'm going to be right behind them as a team should be."

Bollinger's participation in the first Test has been put in doubt after he suffered a stomach strain during the first Test against India last month and he is still two weeks away from a return. He will miss the one-day series against Sri Lanka and has just one Sheffield Shield match to prepare himself for Brisbane, but insists he will be ready to regain his place. "I'm 100 percent, I feel really good, I'm getting back into everything, so I'm going to be fine come November 25."