Jaques set to try for the Ashes squad

Phil Jaques, the New South Wales opening batsman, doing a county stint with Worcestershire, is in Australia to play the Top End Series featuring A teams from New Zealand, Pakistan, India and Australia.

Looking to this winter's Ashes, Jaques felt that, if given a chance, he is ready to play a big part in the series. He played his only Test against South Africa at Melbourne last December and said that it was unfortunate that he played behind Justin Langer and Mathew Hayden - "the most successful partnership in history".

"My timing is not great from that point of view," Jaques told The Australian. "But I have to bide my time and score as many runs as I can to keep the pressure on. Every time I walk out to the middle now, I'm trying to score a big hundred and make a statement."

Jaques is averaging 102 for Worcestershire with three centuries from six matches and scored a double hundred in the county's innings victory over Northamptonshire in June.

"This spell at Worcester is great for me. I wanted to work on my game. The pitch at Worcester seams around and it's never easy to play. That was an attraction. I wanted to test myself. If I can tighten up my game and take it to the next level before the Ashes, then brilliant." Jaques will be returning to play for the county this month after the Top End Series.

"It would be terrific to be involved with the Ashes. It's the biggest series ever from an Australian point of view. We definitely like beating the English, and you saw last summer they like getting one over on us."

Jaques is certain that Australia are looking for revenge. "Everything is geared up to make sure we hit England with everything we have got."