Bichel hopes domestic wickets lift him to the Ashes

Andy Bichel, who won the State Player of the Year award at last night's Allan Border Medal, has not given up on an Ashes place and hopes a strong end to the domestic season will strengthen his claims. Dumped from Cricket Australia's contract list last April, Bichel is the Pura Cup's leading wicket-taker with 46 at 19.43 and is on track to beat his career-best first-class season of 60 in 1999-2000.

"My goal is to represent Australia and if the opportunity came for that to happen again then I'd be delighted," Bichel said. "An Ashes tour would be a wonderful bonus, but I know that the most important thing I can do is to keep working hard and performing for Queensland. We are in the hunt for both finals and there is a lot of hard cricket coming up in the next two months."

Bichel will lead the attack in the ING Cup match against Victoria at Ballarat on Sunday as the Bulls finalise their preparations for hosting the final at the Gabba on February 20. Victoria, who need a win to stay in touch of the second-placed Tasmania, have made one change with Andrew McDonald, the allrounder, replacing Tim Welsford after successfully recovering from thumb surgery.

Victoria Cameron White (capt), Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Matthew Elliott, Ian Harvey, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Brad Knowles, Michael Lewis, Andrew McDonald, Jon Moss, Graeme Rummans, Shane Warne.

Queensland Jimmy Maher (capt), James Hopes, Martin Love, Clinton Perren, Craig Philipson, Brendan Nash, Wade Seccombe, Andy Bichel, Nathan Hauritz, Ashley Noffke, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Jurgensen.