The Ashes 2010: Nathan Hauritz's poor form a concern for Australia

With only two weeks left to the first Test against England, Nathan Hauritz was hoping to impress the Australian selectors when playing for New South Wales against Victoria. But he did not. In fact, he failed miserably, conceding 57 runs in nine overs and taking no wickets. Hauritz was watched by the Australian chief selector, Andrew Hilditch, and struggled on a slow wicket. The 29-year-old did not have the best time against Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman in India recently and his poor form continued just five days before the selectors name the team for the first Test in Brisbane. In Hauritz's defence, it was not a wicket that suited him and Mitchell Starc dropped an easy catch at deep mid-wicket off the spinner when the Victoria opener Michael Hill was on 61. "To be honest, I'm not even looking at the Ashes yet," Hauritz told the Australian Daily Telegraph. "I've still got to be bowling well this week to get there. In my mind, I'm still the No1 spinner but you can't get picked if you're not bowling well. When is the team being named? Next Monday? You don't get picked if you're not bowling well, it's as simple as that." The first Ashes Test starts in Brisbane on 25 November.