Ricky Ponting's elbow injury earned left-handed opener Phillip Hughes a call-up as cover for the Australian captain for the first Test against Pakistan, starting on Saturday.
Hughes, who has not played a Test since being dropped after two games in the Ashes series earlier this year, would replace Ponting in the playing eleven for the Boxing Day Test if the skipper does not recover in time from his left elbow injury suffered during the third Test against West Indies in Perth.
The 21-year-old Hughes was included in the squad after his good recent form, which included a century against Victoria in Newcastle.
"Phillip Hughes has been added to the squad of 13 players for the Boxing Day Test match against Pakistan. While Ricky Ponting is expected to be fit for the Test, the NSP has picked a squad of 13 players for the match so there is adequate cover in the event that Ricky Ponting does not recover as quickly as is hoped," National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a statement.
Squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Clint McKay, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.
