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No reservation for No.6 vacancy, says Hilton

The incumbent No.6, Western Australia's Hilton Cartwright knows he has it all to prove for an Ashes berth

Moments before receiving his Baggy Green, Hilton Cartwright took a moment to soak everything in.

Standing on the SCG outfield as the stands began to fill on the opening morning of the New Year's Test, Cartwright knew what was happening as his new Australia teammates and support staff started to gather.

But as he spots fellow Western Australian Tom Moody clutching a sealed bag, and captain Steve Smith having already confirmed to the world the 25-year-old would make his debut, he didn't allow himself to believe what was about to transpire.

Even now, 10 months on, the aura of the proudest moment of his cricket career gives him a buzz.

Cartwright receives his Baggy Green from Moody

"It's almost a feeling of selfishness because you know it's for you, but you're trying to emphasise that everyone's getting in the huddle for the team," Cartwright tells cricket.com.au

"But realistically it's for you and you're just in awe for 10-15 minutes.

"When 'Moods' came and when I saw that he was in the huddle as well I was thinking, 'Gee, I wonder if he's going to be giving it to me'.

"Then he started talking and everything just kind of goes in a blur. You pick up a word here and there and then he shakes your hand and then you get it out of that little bag and chuck it on your head.

"It's awesome."

While that specific feeling may never quite be replicated, Cartwright admits it would be a huge thrill to pull on the Baggy Green again this summer against England on home soil.

Technically the Test team's incumbent No.6 – he batted there in the second Test of Australia's Qantas Tour of Bangladesh with Glenn Maxwell moving up to No.5 – Cartwright is one of the leading contenders to claim that position at the Gabba next month.

Not that he sees it that way. 

Mehedi gets the last laugh after nasty Cartwright blow

"I've been asked a lot is it my spot to lose. You could play 15 or 20 Tests and it's still your spot to lose. Realistically if guys do well it's a spot up for grabs and that's the way I'm going to approach it," Cartwright told News Corp recently. 

"It's not mine cemented. I've only played two Test matches and until I've played numerous Tests back-to-back and I've got a lot of scores on the board I don't see it as my spot. You could say that based purely based on the fact I was last guy to play that position but I see it as a spot up for grabs."

The Zimbabwe-born allrounder is fresh off a difficult limited-overs tour of India, with his one-day international debut overshadowed by a pair of failures (scores of 1 and 1 in his two hits) and Australia's 1-4 series defeat at the hands of a rampant home side. 

Opening alongside David Warner, Cartwright says he's better off for the experience.

"It was a huge learning curve for not only opening the batting at that level but also the conditions," he tells cricket.com.au

"Aaron Finch (whom Cartwright replaced in the side) certainly spoke to me a lot about how to go about it. 

"It just really opened my eyes to how well the Indians play over there in their conditions, similar to how (well) we play in our conditions and how much you have to adapt when you go around the world."

Now back in Australia, Cartwright knows he's put together a strong case for inclusion in the Magellan Ashes-opener at the Gabba on November 23.

Only Ed Cowan scored more than his 861 Sheffield Shield runs last summer – at an average of 53.81 no less – and his ability to bowl more-than-handy medium pace could yet prove decisive at the selection table. 

Classy Cartwright crushes Blues with rapid 170

He's taken 18 first-class wickets in 23 matches and, like every allrounder who's played under Steve Smith, was seldom bowled in Test cricket. And Cartwright knows if he is to earn an Ashes berth, it will be off the bat. 

"It's a very fine art to be an allrounder … it's an extremely hard skill to nail down completely. If you can (you want to) definitely be picked for one aspect and continue working on the other. It'll make your game stronger and over time it gets better," Cartwright said. 

"I still see myself as a bowling option but if I'm going to get myself into the team it's going to be as a batter and bowl a handful of overs if needed.

"We've got the bowlers to bowl teams out and if things don't go their way or whatever happens I'll be there to fill in a certain role, but for me to get picked it's going to be runs on the board rather than taking 40 wickets in a year."

Cartwright's maiden innings one to remember

And while he concedes it's difficult to put aside the speculation surrounding a potential Ashes berth, Cartwright genuinely just wants selectors to pick the best man for the job. 

"I think it's important for not just myself, I think it's also important for Australian cricket, leading into a big Ashes series," he said of finding the right No.6.

"Shaun Marsh has started (the summer) beautifully, if he gets another Test call-up that'd be great for him.

"But it could be anyone who starts the season off well that could earn themselves a call up.

"It's always hard to put it in the back of your mind and try not to think about it, because … everyone's talking about who is going to take that spot.

"It's not a matter of, 'oh I have to make runs, oh I have to do this, I've got to do that', because then you're just setting yourself up for failure.

"I've just got to do what I need to do in preparation and go out and play the game. If it works for me it works, and if it doesn't I know that I did everything that I could to be successful."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21