Australian Ricky Ponting wants national selectors to make up their mind at the earliest about who would fill in the big shoes of retired opener Matthew Hayden for the crucial tour of South Africa. "I don't reckon (the selectors) will pick two openers (in addition to Simon Katich). I think they should make their mind up now and pick whoever they think is going to be the best selection for South Africa and possibly for the Ashes tour as well," Ponting said. The Australian squad for the three-Test tour of South Africa will be announced on Thursday with young Phillip Hughes and Phil Jaques vying for the opener's job alongside Simon Katich. The 20-year-old Hughes has an impressive double of 151 and 82 not out in the recent Sheffield Shield win over Tasmania,while Jaques,29,made a century in his most recent Test before being sidelined by injury. "Phillip (Hughes) has done absolutely everything in his power to give himself the best chance to be picked. His record for New South Wales in the last couple of years has been outstanding," Ponting was quoted as saying by the 'Herald' on Wednesday. Ponting also acknowledged that Jaques had a strong case to regain his Test berth,having made 902 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 47.47. "Obviously one thing in Phil's favour is his Test experience and his Test record behind him. He did nothing wrong in the games he played when he came into the side and he made a hundred in his last game," he said. Not touring SA is in best interest of Symonds: CA Cricket Australia justified its decision of not considering Andrew Symonds for the tour of Australia,saying that it was in the "best interest" of the controversial all rounder. "It is a tough stance but an appropriate stance in the circumstances," said CA chief executive James Sutherland. "It can be looked at as a sanction but I would prefer to look at this as a decision in the best interests of Andrew Symonds as well. He will benefit from some concentrated counselling over this period before he goes on tour again with the Australian cricket team," he was quoted as saying in the local media. Sutherland said the 33-year-old Symonds,who is undergoing rehabilitation,was infact thankful to have escaped the sack,after his latest remarks to New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum. Symonds was fined $4000 for describing McCullum as "a lump of s**t." during a radio interview with comedians Roy and HG,during which the cricketer sounded as if he had been drinking. "Whilst he is disappointed that he is not able to be selected for the South Africa tour,he is at the same time grateful that he is still a contracted Cricket Australia player," Sutherland said. The CA Chief Executive hinted that Symonds's career will go on the line again before the ODI series against Pakistan in April,around the time the next round of CA contracts is announced.
