White waits for another bowl

Cameron White has not given up bowling and says he would love the chance to do more of it. Until the past year White has been picked more for his spin than his power hitting and was even elevated to the Test team in India in 2008 as Australia's preferred slow man.

But his batting has been hot since the limited-overs tour of England and he scored a hundred and a half-century in the opening two games against Pakistan to show he deserves a spot in the upper half of the order. As he has provided more runs he has delivered fewer overs, and hasn't been called by Ricky Ponting since he got three balls against Scotland in August. That was 21 ODIs ago.

"I've done a little bit for Victoria, I've done a little bit in four-day cricket," he said in the Australian. "I didn't bowl at all in the Twenty20s and not much in one-day cricket. If I get in the position to get a bowl [for Australia] I would love to, but at this stage I am just working on it in the nets and we'll see how it goes.

"I understand my role the way I am going at the moment, we've got plenty of bowling options. I am ready to bowl if required, but it doesn't seem as if I am needed." In 49 ODIs he has 12 wickets at 28.75 and an economy rate of almost 6.5 runs an over.

White's hitting has been so strong over the past week that he has won comparisons with Andrew Symonds, whose exit last year gave White a chance to cement his spot. "Andrew's a fantastic player and was a great player for a long time, I think it would be a bit unfair to compare me to Andrew," he said. "I am just enjoying the role. I am playing naturally and freely at No.5 and when I get the chance toward the end of the innings it's good to hit some fours and sixes."