Hilditch and Chappell have different views on Test XI

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.

Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson to be rested ahead of Ashes

Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson will all be rested from the three one day matches that follow the current Test series against India.

The duo are arguably Australia's three most valuable players, and they will fly home following the conclusion of the second Test against India at Bangalore in order to freshen up ahead of the Ashes series at home. 

This will also give them maximum time to get used to home conditions again after the jolt of Indian climes. 

"The NSP has decided as part of the ongoing management of Ricky's workload he should not take part in this series. The demands of back-to-back Test matches in tough Indian conditions have been taken into consideration,'' said chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch. 

Queensland's James Hopes and New South Wales' Steve Smith will vie for the allrounder's spot, and big-hitting opening batsman David Warner makes a return to the one-day squad. 

The three-ODI series is from October 17-24.

Squad: 

Michael Clarke (capt), 

Cameron White 

Doug Bollinger 

Callum Ferguson 

Nathan Hauritz 

James Hopes 

Mike Hussey 

Shaun Marsh 

Clint McKay

Tim Paine (wk) 

James Pattinson

Steve Smith 

Mitchell Starc 

David Warner

Fergie eyes off a rich Indian double

CALLUM Ferguson is on the verge of a double celebration. He is "quietly confident" of securing an Indian Premier League contract while an Australia one-day recall looks imminent.

The vibrant middle-order batsman is one of five South Australian Champions League stars being courted by IPL rivals trawling for talent before an expanded 2011 series.

"To get exposure to such a high level of cricket would be fantastic," said Ferguson, whose 200-run, Champions League spree and bumper 151.1 strike rate underlined his Twenty20 prowess.

"I am quietly confident I might get a chance. It would be nice."

Ferguson is at short odds to receive a recall for the limited-overs segment of Australia's tour of India. 

Klinger made three half centuries in a stunning debut as captain and is a genuine chance of gaining an IPL deal after being overlooked for the Redbacks' Big Bash campaign last season.

Ferguson, spearhead Shaun Tait (nine wickets), skipper Michael Klinger (226 runs), allrounder Dan Christian (eight wickets), and opener Daniel Harris (139 runs/six wickets) excelled in the Redbacks' surge to the Champions League semi-finals in South Africa.

"Maxy" believes the Redbacks' Australian limited overs trio - Ferguson, Christian and Tait - stand strong chances of landing IPL contracts and hopes to join them in the Twenty20 showcase.

"In terms of the tournament, there was a fair bit of hype about the Redbacks. Christo was leading the wicket-taking. I was making some runs, Ferg performed consistently well and Taity was the fastest bowler at the tournament."

While SA has basked in a $1 million Champions League pay-day, Klinger said it was important the team translated its success to other forms of the game. "There is a difference between T20 and four-day cricket. That is something we have to get our heads around," he said.