Sydney, Feb 1: Skipper Ricky Ponting believes that Australian selectors should stick with experience as two strenuous tours of South Africa and England are in the offing over six months.

Ponting said he would be advising the team's selection panel that the exhausting schedule would better suit accomplished players such as Phil Jaques.

"I'm not sure if it's a time for us right now in Test cricket to really go all out looking for youth," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.

"We have to pick who we think are the most competent and best players around the country to embark on a couple of very big Test series that we''ve got coming up. I will be making that point to selectors, if they don't know that already anyway," he added.

"There's a very tough selection to be made there as far as opening batting spot goes for the South African Test tour - I notice Phil Hughes made 150 against Tasmania," Ponting said.

Hughes has scored 809 Sheffield Shield runs this season at an average of 67.41, with four tons and two half-centuries.

Australian selector Jamie Cox revealed on Friday that both Jaques and Hughes could be named in a touring squad, to be announced after the Shield match concludes. (ANI)