AUSTRALIA'S line-up for the all-important Ashes series is suddenly a work in progress.
The series defeat in India, on the back of a modest display against Pakistan in England, has left the team at a low ebb, ranked fifth in the world and dealing with their longest Test match losing streak for 22 years.
It is not the most promising ground from which to launch an Ashes campaign.
Captain Ricky Ponting has set the scene for an intense month of domestic and international cricket in Australia by admitting that players outside the Test XI could force their way into his side for the first Ashes battle in Brisbane, starting November 25.
The likes of all-rounder Steve Smith, batsmen Callum Ferguson, Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja and emerging spinner Stephen O'Keefe have a month to kick down the door to Ponting's team if they fire in the Sheffield Shield and/or Australia's one-day matches against India and Sri Lanka.
"All any of us can do is play the best cricket we can. I've got to make as many runs as I can, as do the rest of the players in this squad."
Test players will take part in at least one Shield game before the Ashes. Most of them will play two in what will be a fortnight of heated selection debate. "I'll be playing my first game for NSW," Watson said.
"That'll be interesting. It's going to be pretty strange putting on a blue cap.
"For a Queenslander, it's going to be a little bit different.
"Stuart Clark is supposedly booked in to present my cap. That'll be quite funny."
Khawaja is obviously on the Test radar after he was chosen to tour England as the reserve batsman in July. He posted an application this week with a commanding 214 for NSW.
O'Keefe, a highly regarded left-arm off-spinner with the obvious advantage over Hauritz of turning the ball away from right-handers, took 7-64 in the same game.
Leg-spinner Smith, a genuine wicket-taker with fine batting skills up his sleeve, will feature heavily in the one-day series against India.
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