The axe may not have fallen on Phil Hughes for the second trans-Tasman Test but the besieged Australian opener will hardly be breathing a sigh of relief.
Australian captain Michael Clarke scuppered talk of another fitness setback for Shane Watson, saying the all-rounder would be back by the Boxing Day Test against India - even if only used as an opener.
And the looming return of batsman Shaun Marsh from a back complaint only compounded the fact that Hughes needed a big score against New Zealand in Hobart to keep his Test career alive.
But a last chance to impress was almost taken away from Hughes, with Clarke admitting there was a "long debate" about injecting all-rounder Dan Christian into the second Test which starts on Friday.
Christian's inclusion would have made him only the second Indigenous player to play Test cricket for Australia - and probably would have spelt the end for Hughes.
If Christian had played, the out-of-sorts Hughes loomed as the likely omission with Australia's other batsmen moving up a rung in the order.
A green Bellerive deck finally convinced selectors they would not require a fourth bowler, ensuring Christian was made 12th man.
In the end, selectors stuck with the same XI that thrashed New Zealand by nine wickets in Brisbane - but the spotlight remained firmly on Hughes.
His unusual technique has led to him being caught behind the wicket 19 out of 29 dismissals in his 16-Test career.
Not surprisingly Hughes was one of only a handful of Australians in the nets on Thursday in an optional training session.
"He wants to get better - I am confident with that attitude he will play more Test matches for Australia," Clarke said of Hughes.
Asked if there was more pressure on batsmen to perform in Hobart with Watson and Marsh's return imminent, Clarke said: "Not at all.
"(But) it is going to be difficult for the batters on day one - it's going to be a good test if we do bat tomorrow."
Hughes looks set to be tested early in Hobart.
Despite admitting he had never seen a grassier Hobart deck, Clarke could not quite bring himself to say he would bowl first if he won the toss.
That could ensure a tough opening period for the Australian openers - particularly Hughes.
"Overhead conditions will play a part ...(but) the two things I find hard are bowling first when I win the toss and not picking a spinner," Clarke said.
Clarke confirmed Watson had suffered a calf strain while recovering from a hamstring complaint but said it had only set the all-rounder back "a couple of days".
"We are confident he will be right for Boxing Day," Clarke said.
And Clarke hinted Watson may just come back in the Boxing Day Test as a batsman - more specifically an opener.
"I think his batting is a very big part of this team, especially opening at the top of the order," he said.
"If he is batting I can still see him in our team but best-case scenario I would love him to bowl as well."
Australia has not lost any of the nine Tests played in Hobart since the first in 1989.
The second Test against the Black Caps starts on Friday at 10.30am (AEDT) with live coverage on ABC Local and Digital Radio and online.
Australia: David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Dan Christian (12th man)
AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, hobart-7000, tas, australia, new-zealand First posted December 08, 2011 11:59:58
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