Melbourne, Feb 3 (ANI): All rounder James Hopes has said that he can reclaim his first-choice status within the Australian one-day team if selectors scrap their recent policy of using only five genuine bowlers.
The Queenslander was not selected for the first three matches of the series against Pakistan and was promoted only when Shane Watson was rested for the last two games.
Hopes had played 46 of a possible 49 matches for Australia until he injured his hamstring in the first match of one-day series in India late last year.
"We've (previously) played a lot with three fast-bowlers, two all-rounders and a spinner to give us six bowling options, but at this stage we're comfortable going with the five bowling options," Hopes said.
"That puts me up against Shane Watson, who's been in pretty handy form. I wouldn't expect to knock him out of the one-day team. I think my way into that team full-time again is to be playing in the team with him," The Age quoted him, as saying.
The 31-year-old said the manner of Australia's 5-0 series victory over Pakistan had not given selectors any need to change the structure of their bowling attack.
"I don't think Pakistan gave us any reason to think that we needed a sixth bowling option at all, they didn't play that well.
"If the West Indies put up a good show well maybe there could be some thought to having another option because it does limit your options if you've only got five bowlers. If one or two of them get hit around you haven't got the sixth one to call on," Hopes said.
"The reason we did do it in the past is that when you play teams like South Africa you do need that sixth option. But if we keep playing the way we're playing, well, there's no need for the sixth bowler," he added. (ANI)
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