Captain Ricky Ponting has urged the Australian selectors to make up their minds now on Matthew Hayden’s Test replacement at the top of the order.
The Australian squad for the three-Test tour of South Africa will be named on Thursday, with boom youngster Phillip Hughes and Phil Jaques the leading contenders to fill the opening vacancy and partner Simon Katich.
The selectors could pick both Hughes and Jaques in a squad numbering either 14 or 15 players and make the call after the only first-class warm-up game in Potchefstroom from February 20-22.
But Ponting would rather the decision was taken now, allowing the other batsman to remain in Australia and play out the remainder of the Sheffield Shield season.
It’s a tough call as both NSW openers have legitimate claims to replace the retired Hayden.
Twenty-year-old Hughes compiled an impressive double of 151 and 82 not out in the recent Sheffield Shield win over Tasmania, while Jaques, 29, made a century in his most recent Test before being sidelined by injury.
“I don’t reckon (the selectors) will pick two openers (in addition to Simon Katich),” Ponting said on Wednesday, the day after he tied with vice-captain Michael Clarke for the Allan Border Medal.
“I think they should make their mind up now and pick whoever they think is going to be the best selection for South Africa and possibly for the Ashes tour as well.
“Phillip (Hughes) has done absolutely everything in his power to give himself the best chance to be picked.
“His record for New South Wales in the last couple of years has been outstanding.”
Ponting also acknowledged that Jaques had a compelling case to regain his Test berth, having made 902 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 47.47.
“Obviously one thing in Phil’s favour is his Test experience and his Test record behind him,” said Ponting.
“He did nothing wrong in the games he played when he came into the side and he made a hundred in his last game.”
“They’re the positives in his favour and the other things I spoke about the positives in Phil Hughes’ favour.
“Whichever way the selectors decide to go it’s going to be a very big decision and a very tough decision.”
The third contender is Chris Rogers, who has impressed since moving from WA to Victoria this season, making 778 Shield runs at 77.8.
Like Hughes, Victorian leg-spinner Bryce McGain has taken full advantage of the last round of Shield games prior to the touring squad being named.
McGain bowled the Bushrangers to victory with a five-wicket haul in the second innings against South Australia and followed up with 2-43 from his 10 overs in Wednesday’s one-dayer against the Redbacks.
The one-day game at the MCG also heralded the return to action of paceman Peter Siddle, who failed to snare a wicket, returning 0-23 from seven overs, but showed he had recovered from a foot injury.
After making great strides in the home Tests against South Africa, Siddle only needed to prove his fitness to book his spot in the touring party.
In other news, Clarke said he would decide on Thursday whether or not to enter the IPL auction after opting out of the inaugural season of the Twenty20 tournament.
“The workload is the only factor at the moment,” he said.
“The IPL is a fantastic competition, it’s something I definitely want to be a part of, it’s just trying to find out the right time for me.”
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