Selectors consider dropping Gilchrist to No. 7

Adam Gilchrist, Australia's most successful one-day opening batsman, is expected to be demoted to No. 7 when he returns to the side from a short holiday next week. The Sydney Morning Herald reports Trevor Hohns' selection panel, which wants a stable combination before next year's World Cup, has decided on the move after Gilchrist's disappointing returns this summer.

Gilchrist was slotted in at the top of the order on a Steve Waugh hunch in 1997-98 and since then he has blasted 7147 runs in 201 matches. However, he has struggled after the three Super Series games and scored only 24 runs in his past five matches, including a first-ball duck in Sunday's loss to South Africa. However, Hohns said on Sydney radio he had no plans to shuffle Gilchrist down the line-up, and Ricky Ponting defended his team-mate.

Brad Haddin will replace the resting Gilchirst when Australia face South Africa in Melbourne on Friday and Sri Lanka in Sydney on Sunday. The paper reported the selectors were keen to ease Gilchrist's load and ensure stronger starts from the opening pair than during the VB and Chappell-Hadlee series. The candidates for Gilchrist's opening spot alongside Simon Katich, who will miss Friday's game against South Africa with a groin injury, include Michael Clarke, Damien Martyn and Michael Hussey. Martyn was given the first chance to cement a spot when he was named alongside Phil Jaques for the clash at the Telstra Dome.

Another opener in need of runs is Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain who has not posted an international half-century on the tour. Smith, who was unlucky to be given out lbw for 3 in Tuesday's loss to Sri Lanka, said it was important for the senior players to make contributions after the tour-ending injuries of Kallis, Nel and Ntini.

"We've got a lot of young guys around and the guys who have been around for a little bit need to take a lot more weight on their shoulders," he said in The Courier-Mail. "That includes me. It's important for me to stand up and get performances."