MIKE HUSSEY'S Test career will be decided at a meeting between Australia's four selectors in two weeks and the debate over his spot for the Ashes will be fierce.
The panel led by Andrew Hilditch has always maintained a leaning towards established batsmen - their one recent gamble paying huge dividends when Shane Watson was a surprise choice as opener to replace Phillip Hughes during last year's Ashes. Greg Chappell is the new member of the panel, after Merv Hughes was axed last week, and has a reputation for introducing young blood into teams.
The latter half of Hussey's Test career has paled in comparison with his start. From his first nine Test series, he averaged 77.76, while in his past nine, his series average is just 33.44.
Hussey, 35, has not alleviated fears after scoring nought and three in this week's Sheffield Shield match against South Australia, while his rival, Callum Ferguson, hit a century in the same match.
''The priority is the Ashes but we also must get back into the top four ratings next year when they introduce the Test championship [to be contested among the top four ranked Test nations],'' he said.
''If we don't qualify, that would be a disaster as far as I'm concerned. Everything is open for discussion.''
Chappell has seen Ferguson develop since his teenage years, while the other main middle-order contender, Usman Khawaja, spent much time at the Centre of Excellence, where Chappell was head coach before gaining the full-time talent manager and selector's role.
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