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Marcus North and Phillip Hughes have nervous waits on their hands after national selectors delayed naming the Australian squad for next week’s Hobart Test until Friday morning.
North’s form slump has put him in the firing line, having only scored more than 16 on two occasions in his last 10 Test innings.
Hughes’ next gig in the baggy green is also up in the air following scores of 0 and 37 at the SCG as a replacement for Simon Katich.
Katich is still in serious doubt for the Bellerive Oval clash because of his elbow injury that includes a bruised bone and bruised tendon.
But even if Katich plays, Hughes could still line up in the dead rubber against Pakistan in a reshuffled lineup if North is dumped.
With Nathan Hauritz having nailed down the spin bowling role with five-wicket hauls in consecutive Tests, the value of North’s part-time spin bowling has been diminishing by the Test this summer.
North has scored 713 runs at 37.52 in 12 Tests heading into the Hobart clash which starts next Thursday, and it is only memories of his brilliant start to his career that may give him one last chance to come good before the two-Test series in New Zealand in March.
In-form pair Shaun Marsh and George Bailey have had their names thrown up as possible replacements with Steve Smith a bolter.
The heat is also on paceman Peter Siddle to start delivering.
The Victorian has struggled to make an impact with the ball this summer, his momentum having been disrupted by a hamstring injury and his general waywardness.
Siddle, who has collected six wickets at an average of just under 70, played a pivotal role with the bat in Australia’s remarkable 36-run against Pakistan at the SCG on Wednesday.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting singled out Siddle for praise for his three-and-a-half hour knock of 38 in a match-turning ninth wicket stand of 123 with Mike Hussey.
But as his teammate Hauritz said on Thursday, the primary job of any bowler is to take wickets.
“We’re bowlers who are picked to win matches with the ball,” he said.
“It is great scoring runs being a lower-order batsmen.
“But at the end of the day, we’re there to take 20 wickets to win the Test.”
Siddle had a reduced bowling role on the final day of the Sydney Test, not being thrown the ball again after going for 0-27 off four overs at the start of Pakistan’s disastrous fourth innings run chase.
Working in his favour is the 12th man for the Sydney Test, Clint McKay, had a modest showing on debut last month against the West Indies in Perth.
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