Jaques in no rush

Phil Jaques has been sidelined since major back surgery three months ago

Australia Test opener Phil Jaques will delay his return from back surgery by another week.

The 29-year-old was hopeful of playing his first competitive game this week for club side Sutherland since having a bulging disc operated on in October.

But Jaques experienced some discomfort last week, and his surgeon recommended he give himself another week to recover before returning to action.

Jaques was forced to leave Australia's tour of India early last year in order to go under the knife on October 20.

The usual recovery time needed for such an operation is three months and, with the recent retirement of Matthew Hayden, Jaques will be keen to prove his fitness in time for the South Africa and England tours in the months ahead.

Before leaving the subcontinent prematurely due to his injury, Jaques had been in good form for Australia, hitting a hundred and a half-century in the three-Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean.