James Hopes is turning into the player Australia’s selectors wanted fellow Queenslander Shane Watson to become after showing promise as Adam Gilchrist’s opening successor.

Do you think James Hopes is the man to replace Adam Gilchrist at the top of the Australian ODI order?

All-rounder Hopes appears to have the early inside running to take Gilchrist’s long-standing place at the top of the order for the world champions after getting his chance at the Gabba on Sunday night.

The 29-year-old made a whirlwind 17 in difficult batting conditions in the washed out opening match of what Mike Hussey has rated as the toughest tri-series on record.

Hopes hit four boundaries in five balls, which included a leg-side wide, from Irfan Pathan in following on from some blistering form this season as opener for Queensland in the Ford Ranger Cup.

It was only 18 months ago that the jinxed Watson was being groomed as Gilchrist’s opening partner with a view on the 2007 World Cup before another injury struck and Matthew Hayden duly resurrected himself as a one-day swashbuckler.

Hayden’s scratching from the Gabba washout with a lingering hamstring problem opened the door for Hopes’ first chance opening for Australia.

The big left-hander is expected to return in Friday’s day-night clash against Sri Lanka at the SCG but it appears Hopes will get more chances during the tri-series.

Australian coach Tim Nielsen indicated Hopes’ explosive strokeplay and his all-round ability, providing flexibility in team balance and selection, made him a strong option to fill wicketkeeper Gilchrist’s batting boots.

“It’s an interesting position we’re in at the moment by losing someone (Gilchrist) who’s so successful at the top of the order and what he does have is the flexibility of filling two roles.

“World cricket has probably followed that dual-role theme, especially with blokes who are quite aggressive and quite explosive at the top of the order.

“Hopesy has done a really good job of that with Queensland and you probably couldn’t;t get much more difficult conditions that we did last night to have his first crack at it and he acquitted himself quite well.”

Brad Haddin will replace Gilchrist as keeper in all forms of the game but he’s currently in the Australian side as a specialist middle-order batsman and could stay at No.7 with the gloves.

“Personally I think Haddin has done a tremendous job in the middle-order,” Nielsen said.

“He did a great job for us in India and he has the ability to hit both the fast bowling and the spin bowling and score quite quickly.

“Hopesy having done it at state level obviously has had experience at the level below so that’s a positive for him whereas Brad hasn’t done it in the last little while.

“It will be something that once Gilly does finish up the selectors will sit down and have a bit of a think of the make-up of the side and what a different opening partnership does for the complete list.”

Michael Clarke will be the other contender but after making just 10 runs in three innings as opener in the 4-2 series win in India in October, there’s a view he’s best positioned at No.4.

Since replacing Watson in the one-day side last September, Hopes’ tight medium-pace bowling, particularly in the late overs, has been the major string to his bow.

Paceman Stuart Clark has also returned to Australia’s squad after having time off to attend to family business and is in the mix to play Sri Lanka.

Mike Hussey believed the World Cup finalists and India will make for the most difficult opponents Australia has faced in the history of the tri-series.

“I think this will be the toughest tri-series ever,” he said.

“Three very, very good teams, three teams that play one-day cricket particularly well and there’s no easy games.”

Hussey also revealed the Australians have “closed the book” on the racism row with India.

“We’ve spoken about it and said `let’s bury it now, it’s finished’,” he said. “If we continue to talk about it and continue to let it affect us it will affect our cricket.”

© AAP 2012

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