KEY POINTS:
Retired Australian opener Justin Langer will get a good view of two of the country's emerging top-order batsmen in his role as captain of the Prime Minister's XI in a one-day cricket match against New Zealand in Canberra next Thursday.
Langer, who retired from test cricket two years ago, is a good chance to bat alongside NSW's Phillip Hughes and South Australia's Michael Klinger, who were yesterday rewarded for standout seasons for their states.
Hughes and Klinger are the two smokies behind Phil Jaques and Chris Rogers aiming to earn a place on next month's tour of South Africa given their outstanding form at domestic level.
Klinger, 28, is enjoying a career rejuvenation in his first season with the Redbacks after leaving Victoria, which has him the season's leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield, with 906 runs at 90.60, and the one-day competition's second-highest scorer.
Hughes, 20, is third on the Shield runs table, with 658 runs at 59.81, and has been touted as a future Australian player.
Langer, who played 105 tests, said the January 29 match would provide Australia's emerging players with a great opportunity to gain experience against an international side.
"With so much change taking place in the Australian team at the moment, this match provides some of our younger stars with a chance to hone their skills against another international team and show selectors they can mix it with the best," he said.
"I'm sure the Black Caps will also be keen to find some form before they get stuck into the (one-day series against Australia, which starts February 1)."
The selectors, who were provided with input by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, also rewarded young batsmen Callum Ferguson and George Bailey, allrounders Dan Christian and Moises Henriques and young spinner Jon Holland.
The ACT will be represented by teenage paceman Jason Behrendorff.
- AAP