DURHAM could be without new skipper Michael Hussey for the coming season, after Australia's selectors revealed the left-hander is in the frame for a place in the Ashes squad.

Allan Border and former Durham skipper David Boon confirmed Hussey is being considered as Australia's third opener on the Ashes tour.

The 29-year-old was recently recalled to the international squad for the one-day series with New Zealand.

Hussey cracked a useful 30 off only 20 balls against the Black Caps in the second one-day international in Christchurch.

"Michael Hussey has done very well for Western Australia and in county cricket for a number of years now," Border said.

"He is one of those players who has always been in the selectors' thinking and the New Zealand tour gives him an opportunity to establish himself in the Australian squad.

"If he does well there is no reason why he can't be picked for the Ashes tour."

Boon added: "Michael has got a magnificent work ethic and attitude to playing cricket. When the selectors pick players for Australia we look at current form.

"Michael is one of those players who has often impressed us.

"If he scores runs against New Zealand and returns to Western Australia in good form he has a chance of being named in the Ashes squad.

"He has always shown himself to be an excellent team player and there is no doubting his batting talent."

In seven four-day Pura Cup matches for Western Australia this winter, Hussey has plundered 654 runs at 59.45, with a highest score of 223 not out against Victoria.

In the one-day ING Cup he has been less impressive with only 383 runs from ten matches at 38.3.

The problem for Durham is that the Ashes squad will not be named until the end of April, two weeks after their season begins.

If Hussey is selected he would probably have to leave within another couple of weeks for a training camp.

Australia's first match of the summer is a Twenty20 warm-up fixture against England on June 11 followed by the NatWest one-day series also involving Bangladesh The Ashes series starts at Lord's on July 21 with the final Test at the Oval on September 8.

Hussey will link up with his new Riverside team-mates on a pre-season tour of the United Arab Emirates.

The rest of the party will fly to Dubai on March 25 for the two-week trip, with Hussey due to arrive two days later.

He played three seasons for Northamptonshire from 2001 to 2003, during which he clocked up 5,131 runs and never averaged less than 70.

Although he struggled to find his best form in a short stint for Gloucestershire last summer, he still averaged 39.12 from five County Championship matches.

Hussey is taking nothing for granted, while admitting that international cricket is his priority.

"My dream is to be a permanent member of the Australian Test and one-day sides," he said. "I don't need to make too many technical changes to my game at the moment, but I have to be more consistent and make runs for Western Australia.

"I also need to stop losing concentration and giving my wicket away when I am well set."

Durham coach Martyn Moxon is planning to speak to Hussey when he returns home from New Zealand next week

"We need to know if he has a feel for what might happen," said Moxon.

"We had to get permission from the Australian board for him to play for us and so far we have no indication from either them or him that he might not be available.

"But we have to be prepared for that possibility.

"I have had a look at which countries are playing where and when during our summer so I have a list of potential signings we could contact."

Paul Collingwood is Durham's vice-captain and unless he is required in the Test squad he should miss only a month of the county season during the one-day internationals in June.

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