Ready for Test return, if team needs me : Afridi

Karachi, Dec. 16 (ANI) : Slam-bang Pakistan all rounder Shahid Afridi has said he would consider playing Test matches if the team needed his services in the longer version of the game.

Afridi, who last played a Test match in 2006 against England at Manchester, said that even though he has decided to focus only on the T20 and one-day formats of the game, he is ready to respond if called up.

"Even though it has been a while since I last played tests, I have kept my self attuned to the rigours of the five day game and will be ready to step up when required," The Dawn quoted, Afridi, as saying.

It may be noted that Afridi, recently, had said that he would not play Test matches to focus more on the T20 World Championship and the 2010 World Cup.

Referring to the forthcoming Australia tour, the 29 year-old hard hitting all rounder said he is eagerly waiting for the series, especially for the lone T20 encounter with Kangaroos.

Afridi, who has played 26 Test matches and scored 1683 at an average of above 37, admitted that Pakistani batsmen could suffer while tackling the pace and bounce of the Australian wickets during the series and said that they would face the 'ultimate test' in the series Down Under.

"Inconsistent batting and fielding is a major worry. Unless we improve our standard in these areas we will keep struggling. The Aussie tour will be a great test for our batsmen. If they come up good, we can be in for an interesting series," he said. (ANI)