Tasmanian captain George Bailey has trouble comprehending it: he’s in Australia’s one-day squad and Ricky Ponting isn’t.

“That is still hard to get my head around because in my mind he’s still a superior, superior batsman,” Bailey said on Wednesday of his Tasmanian team-mate.

Bailey, at age 29, could make his one-day international debut on Australia’s tour of the West Indies next month.

And he’s rapt to be named on merit, instead of being called into the national squad as injury cover as he has done before.

“It’s nice to finally get picked in a squad not at the expense of someone’s injury,” Bailey said.

“I figured I must have been getting close. Obviously I was called up when Pup (captain Michael Clarke) was injured last week.

“I knew I was in the mix I guess and obviously the recent events with Ricky maybe helped as well.

“I have never felt like it has been beyond me.

“There have been enough examples in Australian cricket over the last few years of guys who have had to wait a while to get their opportunity.”

Bailey agreed with chairman of selectors John Inverarity, who said the batsman had been picked “in the form of his life”.

“I feel like I’m playing my best cricket so I don’t go in with any doubts about my own game,” Bailey said.