AS NATIONAL selectors sweat on whether their re-shaped Test team can stay in the hunt for the Ashes in Perth, they must temporarily shift their focus to their other major challenge: ensuring Australia is equipped to win a fourth consecutive World Cup.
By the weekend they must select an expanded squad of 30 - to be halved in a month - for the tournament to be held in the sub-continent from mid-February.
While Australia's Test performances have suffered conspicuously of late, its No. 1 ranking in one-day internationals means there are few vacancies, with all but three positions in the final 15-man squad seemingly guaranteed barring injuries.
Redback Christian is in the top four in the competition for both disciplines: averaging 61.17 with a strike-rate of 126.55, and with 13 wickets at 23.54.
Fleming's fellow commentator, Greg Blewett, believes the all-rounder slot that Christian is vying for against John Hastings and James Hopes is one of only two or three positions still to be decided for the national team in 50-over matches.
The pair were also united in urging the recall of Brett Lee, who is at the top of the one-day cup wicket tally this season - 15 wickets at 21.73.
POSSIBLE 30 PLAYER SQUAD:
Ricky Ponting (Tas)
Michael Clarke (NSW)
Doug Bollinger (NSW)
Brad Haddin (NSW)
Nathan Hauritz (NSW)
Brett Lee (NSW)
Steve O'Keefe (NSW)
Steve Smith (NSW)
Mitchell Starc (NSW)
David Warner (NSW)
Shane Watson (NSW)
Ryan Harris (Qld)
James Hopes (Qld)
Chris Lynn (Qld)
Daniel Christian (SA)
Callum Ferguson (SA)
Shaun Tait (SA)
Xavier Doherty (Tas)
Tim Paine (Tas)
John Hastings (Vic)
Brad Hodge (Vic)
David Hussey (Vic)
Andrew McDonald (Vic)
Clint Mckay (Vic)
Matthew Wade (Vic)
Cameron White (Vic)
Mike Hussey (WA)
Shaun Marsh (WA)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Adam Voges (WA)
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