Brad Hogg believes that Australia's series against India represents his last chance to stake a Test claim.
All-rounder hopes to overcome fingernail injury and win Test reprieve
Brad Hogg believes that Australia's upcoming series against India represents his last opportunity to stake a claim for a place in his country's Test side.
The 36-year-old Western Australia all-rounder has so far made four appearances for his country in the five-day game, but was overlooked by selectors for the recent series against Sri Lanka.
With Stuart MacGill having suffered a serious injury to his hand, however, Hogg is back in with a chance of making at least the first Test, which starts in Melbourne on Boxing Day.
Race run
But, should he not be picked, Hogg also believes that, as far as Test cricket is concerned, four caps will be all he receives.
"If I don't get picked this time, I think I've run my race for Test cricket, but I won't give in. The selectors have probably already made up their minds, they just haven't told me or anyone," Hogg said.
"My one-day form probably won't make an impact on that, as you bowl differently in the two forms of the game.
"At the end of the day, whatever way they go I can't complain. I've had a couple of chances before, I'd like to get another one and this is the best time for me.
"You want to play Test cricket and to play in an event like a Boxing Day Test would be the icing on the cake for me and fantastic to be part of it."
Infection
However, Hogg came close to sabotaging his Test chances after recently suffering an infected finger when cutting his nails.
As a result, he only bowled two days of a recent Pura Cup match in Tasmania but, after a weekend's rest - and with the jibes of team-mates still ringing in his ears - he said he would be fine.
"I bowled the second day with a bit of a cut in there, and then overnight it got infected so it wasn't too good after that. The boys were giving me a fair bit of flack, I think I'll get my wife to cut them for me from now on," he continued.
"I was doing a few cosmetics and got stuck into the nail a bit too far and ripped it open. It got infected after that and stopped me putting the ball on it.
"It should be OK in a couple of days and I'm on antibiotics to clean it up. It's a bit embarrassing, but just one of those things that happens."
Regardless of what happens on the Test front, Hogg added that the good form he has shown at State level meant he was looking forward to the upcoming Chappel-Hadlee series against New Zealand.
"I'm looking forward to getting back into the green and gold for the one-dayers again. I've just been happy with the way I've been bowling," he said.
"I haven't got wickets the last couple of innings, but I've been happy with the way they've been coming out and we've bowled well as a team."
