Phil Jaques

New South Wales' most experienced opener has only been spoken of in Test terms when remembering his past exploits

Steven Smith and Peter Forrest steadied New South Wales on a two-paced first day as they finished at 4 for 326 in Hobart

Matthew Wade and Andrew McDonald sealed a five-wicket win that took Victoria to second on the one-day table

Phil Jaques blasted his way out of a lean patch with the second highest score in Australia's domestic one-day history to help New South Wales to a six-run win over Queensland

Phil Jaques and Usman Khawaja posted centuries before New South Wales' bowlers gave the leaders Victoria a fright in the draw at Newcastle

Shane Watson should start to open the batting for New South Wales if he is to continue as a Test opener, according to the former Australia captain Mark Taylor

The good news for New South Wales was Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Phil Jaques and Usman Khawaja all made solid starts, but the situation wasn't as cheery for Phillip Hughes, who failed in his last hit-out before the first Test team is named

Phillip Hughes posted a calm half-century as New South Wales swept aside Western Australia

Nobody in Australia is more excited about the season starting than Phil Jaques

Phil Jaques will continue to fight to regain his national spot despite suffering a setback in his recovery from a severe back problem

Shane Watson looks like leaving Queensland and crossing the border to New South Wales so he can live with his Sydney-based partner

Stuart Clark and Phil Jaques will both have an opportunity to impress the national selectors ahead of the tour of South Africa when they return to the New South Wales Sheffield Shield side on Friday

Andrew Symonds is on track to make next month's Test tour of South Africa following knee surgery on New Year's Eve

Phil Jaques has delayed his return from back surgery by a week in a move that keeps the race to replace Matthew Hayden open

Simon Katich, the Australia opener, will drop down the order for New South Wales

A look at the players in the reckoning to fill the impending vacancy at the top of Australia's order

Phil Jaques is preparing for a state comeback by the end of January after a lay-off due to back surgery, and he hopes to win a spot for Australia's upcoming tour of South Africa

The opener Phil Jaques is hopeful of being fit for Australia's tour of South Africa in February