Jaques targets South Africa tour

The NSW left-hander, who is set to miss the entire Australian international summer season with a back complaint, the setback has come at a very bad time.

While under no threat of being dropped, Australia's champion opening batsman Matthew Hayden is struggling in India with 0, 13, 0 and 29 in the first two Tests.

His opening partner Simon Katich, despite a solid start of 66, 34, 33 and 20 in the series, has suffered from some tough selection decisions in the past and would be wary of taking his spot for granted at Test level.

Jaques boasts a record of 902 runs at 47.47 in 11 Tests and had been in solid form with 806 runs at 50.37 in nine consecutive matches against Sri Lanka, India and the West Indies in the past 12 months.

But with Hayden returning for the Indian tour after missing out in the West Indies because of an Achilles injury, Jaques was overlooked in favour of NSW teammate Katich.

Katich opened with Jaques in the Caribbean in May and June and scored two centuries in his 346 runs to beat Jaques (245 runs) in the "bat-off" to partner Hayden in India.

Now Jaques is not even the reserve opener in India, having returned home because of injury.

The 29-year-old faced up to the prospect of a gruelling schedule of rehabilitation in the hope that he can play a few Sheffield Shield matches for the Blues late in the season.

The Wollongong product had surgery on Thursday on a bulging disc.

"The specialists advised me this is a very serious back injury and my only option was to get it operated on as soon as possible," Jaques said.

"I am hoping that with the correct rehabilitation I can play the last few matches of the interstate season, get some batting under my belt and push for selection on Australia's tour to South Africa next year.

"While this is incredibly disappointing at the moment, my sole focus is on getting back to playing for Australia as soon as possible."