But such is the strength of the game down under that he has not been seen in a Test match since the tour to India earlier this year.

The stylish South Australian is in the best form of his life, piling up the runs in a manner which would stand comparison with Sir Don Bradman, acknowledged by many as the greatest batsman ever to play the game.

A debut Test hundred in Adelaide (1995)

Scores of 143, 169 not out and 214 not out have been the tip of the iceberg with Blewett piling up 1,175 first-class runs at a Bradmanesque average of 146.88.

It is the highest run total ever before Christmas in an Australian domestic season and he is only the sixth batsman in history to pass the 1,000 run milestone prior to New Year.

His unbeaten 214 was his fourth successive century and his seventh of a season which began with 175 against New South Wales in South Australia's opening Sheffield Shield game.

Blewett once had to abort plans to join English county side Middlesex and his prolific form now has next summer's scheduled employers, Yorkshire, wondering whether he will make it to Headingley.

If he is picked for the Australian World Cup squad, he would be unavailable for Yorkshire until June 20, leaving the county in a quandary.

"We would have to weigh it up and see what alternatives there might be. But we might be better to stick with what we have and take a chance rather than go and get a lesser player," said Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell.

"Australia seem to have quite a number of very talented lads. The trouble is, as soon as one of them signs for Yorkshire it is exactly the opposite of the kiss of death and they start playing better than ever."

Hundred in debut Test

Exhausted: Blewett and Steve Waugh bat all day in Johannesburg

England must be sick of the sight of Blewett - he began his Test career against them with hundreds in the fourth and fifth Tests of the 1994-5 series which Australia won 3-1.

He looked set for a long and glittering Test career but even better was to come as Blewett proved he had substance as well as style by batting throughout the third day with Steve Waugh in the opening Test of the series in South Africa in March 1997.

Blewett was eventually out for 214 after hammering 34 boundaries and he followed that three months later by helping himself to 125 in the second innings of the opening Test at Edgbaston.

But the responsiblities of batting number three proved a burden to Blewett and his natural inclination to attack often proved his undoing, despite two half centuries in the fifth Test at Trent Bridge.

The Australian selectors finally ran out of patience after scored of 9, 5, 0, 25, 4 and 5 in the three-Test series in India earlier this year.

An overall tally of 1,853 runs at an average of 36.14 from 31 Test appearances is by no means a true reflection of Blewett's ability.

He has tightened up his technique and his response to being dropped has been all that the selectors could ask. Now he waits in line for his chance to come again.