The road to redemption for Phil Hughes appears as unorthodox as his technique after Australian captain Michael Clarke conceded Test players axed this summer would need to get Twenty20 runs to don the baggy green again.
Clarke admitted Hughes would be the big casualty of Australia's shock seven-run second Test loss to New Zealand in Hobart on Monday.
But some difficult calls still await national selectors as they pick through the aftermath of Australia's first Test loss to New Zealand on home soil in 26 years.
Australia lost 3 for 0 and 4 for 7 to be 9 for 199 before two-Test sensation David Warner (123 not out) and Nathan Lyon (9) put on 34 for the last wicket to almost deny the Kiwis.
While gutted over Australia's first Test defeat to New Zealand since 1993, Clarke also did not look happy that dropped players would need to fight their way back via T20.
The inaugural Big Bash League - which begins on Friday night - ensures there will be no first class cricket for almost two months.
The four-Test series against India ends on January 28 - the same day of the BBL final.
"People who get dropped from this team, they're going to have to go back to Twenty20 and score some runs," Clarke said.
"I'm not sure how it's going to work."
Asked if he would prefer to see first-class cricket during the height of the Test summer, Clarke said: "We've got what we've got.
"My opinion is not going to change anything."
Hughes failed to add to his overnight score of 20 before being caught by Martin Guptill off Chris Martin for the fourth time of the series.
Even Clarke - a staunch Hughes supporter - could not defend the opener, who has averaged 10.4 since his 88 against South Africa last month.
"He's obviously really disappointed, like all the batters are, for the way we played today but Hughsey's obviously the most disappointed, he's been getting out the same way," Clarke said.
"I know he's been working hard in the nets trying to improve that deficiency in his technique ... but he needs to find some runs, it's as simple as that.
"If he's not making them for Australia, he's going to have to go back and score some for New South Wales."
First picked for the Boxing Day Test against world number two India in Melbourne will be man-of-the-match Warner.
That causes a welcome headache for selectors as they look at their openers with Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh expected back from injury.
"He's an amazing talent and has been for a long time, he's been keen to get an opportunity to play Test cricket for Australia," Clarke said of Warner.
"He's made the most of his chances in Twenty20 and one-day cricket and showed again today that he's here to stay in Test cricket as well."
Warner, though disappointed by the defeat, also felt he had proved a point.
"I've always said I wanted to prove to people I could play longer form and now today it's overwhelming to show people what I've done," he said.
"At the end of the day I've just proved to people I can play the longer form.
"As a kid growing up you hundred per cent want to keep striving as much as you can to get that baggy green and now I've got it I'm trying to hold onto it as long as I can."
But some unpleasant calls loom after New Zealand's win - the equal seventh-smallest margin of victory by runs in Test history.
Selectors have no choice but to re-think their batting line-up after Doug Bracewell - in just his third Test - ripped through Australia with 6 for 40, finishing with match figures of 9 for 60.
Australia fell for its lowest Test total on home soil against New Zealand in the first innings - 136.
It has now been bowled out for under 150 five times since July 2010 - and three times under 100 in 18 months.
"It probably sums up where we are as a team, we've seen some patches of individual excellence, and even some as a team," Clarke said.
"We're playing very well in patches but you are seeing the other side as well, where we're letting ourselves down with really poor performances."
Veterans Ricky Ponting (16) and Mike Hussey (0) both failed again on Monday.
Ponting - grieving over the death of his grandmother - extended his Test ton drought to 31 innings while Hussey fell for his second golden duck in a month to complete a second straight horror series.
Grandstand's Jim Maxwell says it is time for Ponting and possibly Hussey to go, but they are not expected to be cut - yet.
That does not bode well for number three Usman Khawaja, who is yet to cement a spot with one 50 from six Tests, averaging 29.22.
"(Hughes) needs some runs, no doubt, but he's not the only one, let me make that clear," Clarke said.
ABC/AAP/Reuters
Tags: sport, cricket, hobart-7000, tas, australia First posted December 12, 2011 21:48:29
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