Ex-Oz coach Arthur backs Bailey to finally make Test debut in winter Ashes after decade

Former Australian head coach Mickey Arthur has said he believes that Australia's stand-in captain George Bailey could finally land his Test debut in the winter Ashes series after a decade in the making.

Bailey, who averaged just 18.28 in the Sheffield Shield competition last year, has become a 50-over powerhouse for his country with an exceptional record of 1281 runs at an average of 51.24 at a strike rate of 88.52 for Australia in the one-day game.

According to News.com.au, Arthur backed Bailey to make his long-awaited Test debut in the Ashes, saying that he believes Bailey's confidence in the ODI format can flow into the first-class arena to improve a solid, but not spectacular, career record of 5936 runs at an average of 38.29.

The report mentioned that Bailey, who has scored 85, 92 not out and 43 in the current one-day series against India, is jostling with a large group of players including Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja and Phillip Hughes for the No.6 vacancy in the top-order.

Although Arthur admitted that Bailey was not added to the Ashes tour last season as his domestic numbers then did not warrant selection, he is hoping that Bailey gets his Test debut in the winter Ashes this time as he has worked very hard in the one-day series in India and deserves his success.