KINGSTON, JAMAICA – On the eve of the opening Digicel Test at Sabina Park, Australia's world-class opening batsman Matthew Hayden is doubtful for the clash with the West Indies.

Captain Ricky Ponting described his chances of taking his usual opening slot as fifty-fifty.

"He's probably fifty-fifty at best. He was supposed to be fully tested today; that didn't happen," Ponting reported to the media at the series launch media conference at Sabina Park without explaining the reason for the opener not undergoing the fitness test.

Hayden, a veteran of 94 Tests, is suffering from an achilles problem which prevented him from taking part in Australia's solitary warm-up game over the last weekend in Trelawny.

The big left-hander is a critical component of the mighty Australian batting line-up, best illustrated by his 8 242 Test runs at an astonishing average of 53.51 and inclusive of a former world record of 380 for the highest individual score.

"He has actually woken up a lot better today [Tuesday] than he has in the last two days, if he wakes up well tomorrow [Wednesday] they will probably do some sort of testing tomorrow, but you'd have to say not playing last week and having limited preparation for the Test, he's probably fifty-fifty at best," Ponting said.

Ponting explained that the team physiotherapist Alex Kontouri who has been treating Katich thinks that Hayden's condition is improving. (digicelgroup.com)