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Phil Jaques ready to replace Hayden
The pressure on out-of-form Matthew Hayden increased further with opener Phil Jaques announcing his availability for next month's South Africa tour.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: January 08, 2009 11:25 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Melbourne:
Jaques, who scored 108 in his last Test against the West Indies in Barbados last year, hopes the selectors, following Hayden's prolonged slump in form, would consider him when deciding the team for the tour of South Africa.
"I scored 100 in my last Test so hopefully they remember that," Jaques told 'The Daily Telegraph'.
"I think I've got the runs on the board. There is no doubt my aim is to play that South African tour. If that wasn't my aim I wouldn't be playing that first-class match on the 30th (of January)," said the left-hander, who seemed to have recovered from a back surgery.
Jaques will first play club cricket before returning to first class cricket later this month when New South Wales play Tasmania.
Despite his woeful run of form, Hayden was retained for the Test series against South Africa but the bad patch continued and the 39 runs he scored in the second innings of the Sydney Test was the burly opener's highest score of the summer.
The selectors subsequently axed Hayden from Australia's one-day and Twenty20 squads for the series against South Africa.
Hayden's Test career looks in trouble as well, especially with the return of Jaques, who insists he can make a good contribution as Australia tour South Africa hoping to avenge their recent home series defeat.
"I want to go to South Africa, that's certainly what I am trying for. I am sure I can play a big role for Australian cricket and I can't wait to get back," Jaques said.
The pressure on out-of-form Matthew Hayden increased further with opener Phil Jaques announcing his availability for next month's South Africa tour.Jaques, who scored 108 in his last Test against the West Indies in Barbados last year, hopes the selectors, following Hayden's prolonged slump in form, would consider him when deciding the team for the tour of South Africa.
"I scored 100 in my last Test so hopefully they remember that," Jaques told 'The Daily Telegraph'.
"I think I've got the runs on the board. There is no doubt my aim is to play that South African tour. If that wasn't my aim I wouldn't be playing that first-class match on the 30th (of January)," said the left-hander, who seemed to have recovered from a back surgery.
Jaques will first play club cricket before returning to first class cricket later this month when New South Wales play Tasmania.
Despite his woeful run of form, Hayden was retained for the Test series against South Africa but the bad patch continued and the 39 runs he scored in the second innings of the Sydney Test was the burly opener's highest score of the summer.
The selectors subsequently axed Hayden from Australia's one-day and Twenty20 squads for the series against South Africa.
Hayden's Test career looks in trouble as well, especially with the return of Jaques, who insists he can make a good contribution as Australia tour South Africa hoping to avenge their recent home series defeat.
"I want to go to South Africa, that's certainly what I am trying for. I am sure I can play a big role for Australian cricket and I can't wait to get back," Jaques said.
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