Injured Hussey aims for Sri Lanka Test

Mike Hussey, the Australia batsman who has been ruled out of their tour of India, is confident he will be fit for the first Test against Sri Lanka on November 8. Hussey picked up an injury to his left hamstring during Australia's ICC World Twenty20 campaign last week, forcing him out of their limited-overs series in India which begins on Saturday.

"I don't really know [how serious it is]," Hussey said. "It is the first time I have ever done a hamstring, so I am playing it by ear at the moment. It is a bit hard to predict exactly how long it is going to take to get back, but my focus is to get back for the first Test, do everything I can rehab-wise and make sure I am ready.

"It is very important not to rush it, not because of the schedule ahead, but because I want to make sure it is 100% right so I can play my best cricket. I don't want to let the team down by coming back too early and doing it again. I will be doing everything by the book."

The big challenge facing Australia in their six-Test home summer is replacing the retired Justin Langer as opener. In spite of an endorsement from Steve Waugh, Hussey insists he would prefer to remain in the middle order.

"I am happy to do whatever Ricky Ponting thinks is the best for the team," he said, "but I must admit I have really fallen in love with the middle order. I love the different situations of the games you get to play in, I love batting with the tail. If I had my first choice it would be to stay in the middle order somewhere."

Both Phil Jaques - who enjoyed an impressive Australia A tour of Pakistan this month - and Chris Rogers are battling for the opening position. "It is going to be a big battle," Hussey said. "There was a lot of competition in the Australia A tour, and I am sure the first couple of Pura Cup games are going to be very keenly watched."