Justin Langer has emerged as a bolter to join Matthew Hayden at the top of the Australian batting order at next year's World Cup because of the volatile nature of pitches in South Africa.

There's a school of thought among Australian players and selectors that dynamic left-hander Adam Gilchrist might be better utilised further down the order from where he could bludgeon the old ball like he does in Test matches.

South Africa's current one-day home series against Sri Lanka has thrown up plenty of wickets in the first ten overs and Australia will consider using two specialist openers to protect Gilchrist when conditions are most lively.

At the Wanderers in Johannesburg, where the World Cup final will be held in March, Sri Lanka plummeted to 5-30 before being rolled for 128.

In reply, the hosts were 4-56 after 15.1 overs before Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher found the going easier and scrounged together enough runs for victory.

A more steady-as-she-goes approach in the early overs from Australia will bring Hayden's Test opening partner Langer, South Australia's Greg Blewett and Queenslander Jimmy Maher into contention.

Langer and Hayden have developed a rock-solid, record-breaking Test combination since being thrown together after Michael Slater's sacking midway through last year. That good chemistry will play in Langer's favour.

Gilchrist and Hayden will open in the preliminary matches of the VB Series, starting with Australia's first match against England at the SCG on Friday the 13th.

The West Australian is already in the good books with selectors, having been made captain of the Australia A team - which includes Blewett and Maher - for Sunday's match against dispirited England at the SCG.

The three will have another opportunity to stake their claim when Australia A plays Sri Lanka at the Gabba on December 14. The 15-man World Cup squad will be announced by December 31.

Meanwhile, former Australian captain and coach Bob Simpson called for a halt to widespread speculation over Steve Waugh's Test career as chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns remained in hiding.

Waugh's omission from Australia's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup heightened speculation that his Test days would be numbered after the fifth Ashes Test against England.

Waugh's predecessor as skipper, Mark Taylor, and wicketkeeper Ian Healy, who was sacked in 1999 for Adam Gilchrist, were among former players who refused to buy into the topic.

Hohns was unavailable for comment for the third straight day, apparently in the belief that he's not obliged to comment on the continued omission of a player who has not been in selected in the one-dayers since January.

"This whole thing has gone over the top," Simpson said when asked if Waugh should elect to end his career at the SCG in January - or keep soldiering on at the age of 37.

"All this talk ... none of it is going to help Steve. It's just going to go on and on and I think we should leave him alone and let him play the game and let things take their natural course."

Steve Waugh will join Mark Waugh, Glenn McGrath, Michael Bevan, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Stuart MacGill in a formidable NSW team against England at the SCG on Friday night.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP