Debutants Finch, Hughes to open for Australia

Updated January 10, 2013 22:50:42

Australia will field debutants in its top three batting spots in Friday's one-day series opener against Sri Lanka in Melbourne, but captain George Bailey denied it was a second-string side.

Bailey said on Thursday that Aaron Finch and Phil Hughes would open the batting, with left-hander Usman Khawaja coming in at number three.

Bailey will bat at number four in an inexperienced line-up that also includes all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who has only played four ODIs.

David Hussey and Brad Haddin add some experience to the middle order.

The selectors resisted naming a fourth debutant, leaving quick Ben Cutting out of the bowling attack.

That leaves Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Clint McKay to fill the pace spots with Xavier Doherty the specialist spinner, supported by Maxwell and Hussey.

Bailey rejected claims he will lead a B-team into the opening match of the five-match series.

"For these two games this is the best side that Australia can put out," Bailey said.

Selectors on Sunday announced a 13-man squad for the first two ODIs.

"I've got no doubt that if guys perform well, for sure there'll be a few debutants in this game.... I think you'll see these guys a lot more in one-day cricket, I think you'll see some of them play Test cricket."

Bailey added that it was the perfect occasion for the debutants to shine.

"It's a huge opportunity and a great one.... What you want from your top four, top five (batsmen) in one-day cricket is for them to score the bulk of the runs and to win you the game," he said.

"Whether it's your first game or your 50th game, that expectation doesn't change."

Underlining the Australian team's relative inexperience, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene (386) has played more one-dayers than Australia's entire XI (366).

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted January 10, 2013 12:55:05

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Hughes has heart set on number three

By James Maasdorp

Updated January 04, 2013 23:41:12

Phil Hughes is determined to make Australia's number three spot his own after an elegant showing with the bat against Sri Lanka at the SCG.

Australia leads the tourists by 48 runs after making 6 for 342 on day two of the third and final Test in Sydney.

As it happened: Third Test, Day Two

The Aussies were left frustrated by a number of batsmen failing to convert half-centuries into hundreds, with Hughes top-scoring with 87, ahead of David Warner (85) and Michael Clarke (50).

Wicket-keeper Matthew Wade is still at the crease with an unbeaten 47, though it will be a tough ask for him to make a ton with only Peter Siddle (13 not out) and the tail left on a deteriorating wicket.

Hughes says he wants to focus on making number three his own and is happy with the improvements in his technique.

"Today wasn't so good. I would have liked 13 more and a few more [on top of that], but I felt quite comfortable in the middle today and David and I put on a pretty good partnership," he told Grandstand.

"I love number three and I'd love to stay here for a period of time.

"I've been in and out of the team a few times over a number of years now, I really want to cement my position at three, so I suppose I'm really looking forward to the next little period.

"I feel like my leg side play has improved over the last 12 months, I think my defence has really come along.

"It's something I had to work on. Facing bowlers around the world, they can find you out. If you've got a good defensive game I think that's key going forward."

Hughes praised the efforts of Rangana Herath, whose 2 for 69 helped Sri Lanka claw their way back into the game.

Herath dismissed Hughes after the batsman tried to cut the tweaker late to third man, but instead chopped it straight into the keeper's gloves.

Hughes says the pitch has slowed down remarkably for a second day wicket and tipped Australia's Nathan Lyon to be a big factor at the business end of the Test.

"It started to turn a bit today so it's going to be interesting as the game goes on," Hughes said.

"[Herath] bowled very well, he mixed his pace up beautifully so he can be tough at times.

"[The pitch] is quite slow, so it's difficult to drive, especially on the up so you've really got to play it as late as possible. It's taking turn and it's only day two.

"It's going to be interesting over the course of the game, it's going to take a fair bit of turn over the next few days.

"Lyon will come into the game, especially in the second innings. Day three and four, we'll wait and see, but I'm sure it's going to take some big turn."

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford said the thinking behind Herath's late introduction into the attack was to give the visitors' quicks more time with the ball.

He says 2012's leading wicket-taker will be crucial in trying to get Australia out as early as possible on day three.

"I think Mahela [Jayawardene] felt quite strongly the off-spinners against the left-handers, there was something there," Ford told Grandstand.

"It's pretty straightforward, we've got to strike early, and hopefully get batting early on.

"Everyone's noticed there is deterioration ... we've got to get whatever we can and make a nasty little chase for Australia.

"At this stage we'll take it session by session. We've got to get wickets first thing tomorrow ... we'll start thinking about totals and targets a bit later on."

Ford says nerves played a part in Sri Lanka's skittish start to day two, as Warner and Hughes put together 130 runs in less than 30 overs.

"We didn't start as well as we would have liked to this morning. It took some time for nerves to settle this morning," he said.

"I was impressed with the energy and the fight amongst the fielders - perhaps there were one or two catches that went astray.

"It was a long day for those lads (pacemen), perhaps they didn't have enough gas in the tank to really capitalise with the new ball."

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, sri-lanka

First posted January 04, 2013 19:12:19

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Hughes confident he's a new Test man

Updated December 13, 2012 10:23:58

Phil Hughes is confident his attention to detail in improving his leg-side play will pay off as he makes his return to the big time in Friday's opening Test against Sri Lanka at Bellerive.

The 24-year-old, with 17 Tests to his name, was dropped after the Hobart Test against New Zealand a year ago and has been recalled for the Sri Lankan series, with a likely role at number three instead of his usual opening gig.

Criticised in the past for poking catches to the slips cordon, the NSW product has averaged more than 50 in Sheffield Shield cricket with his new side South Australia this summer.

"It's a great feeling. I'm really excited about it," Hughes told a Hobart news conference on Tuesday.

"This is the ground where things probably didn't pan out perfectly on a personal note.

"Twelve months down the track, I feel like I'm in a better place now."

Hughes put his head down and did extra work on his batting last summer once he was removed from the Test side, turning his back on the domestic Twenty20 Big Bash League.

"I feel like I've done a lot of work," he said.

"I knew I had to make sacrifices along the way and that was definitely one, to pull out of the Twenty20 comp last year, to work on my technique and become a better player."

The pull shot is the big weapon for Hughes these days, after relying heavily on the square-drive and cut in the past.

"It is a lot different. Probably 70 to 80 per cent of my scoring options were on the off side," Hughes said.

"I feel now I've got both sides of the field covered and that's something I had to go away and work on.

"The leg-side play was something big in my mind that I had to focus on.

"I'm free-flowing now. It's easier when they do bowl straighter that I can work off my hip and off to the leg side."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, hobart-7000, tas, australia

First posted December 11, 2012 13:51:51

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Hughes takes confidence from return knock

Updated December 15, 2012 08:06:42

Phil Hughes wants the 86 he scored on his Test return to lead to a permanent spot at number three for Australia, who reached 4 for 299 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart.

On a day where the man Hughes replaced, Ricky Ponting, was given a cavalcade farewell around the Bellerive Oval during the lunch interval, the left-hander batting at three for the first time in a Test match showed patience and a more solid technique than in his last appearance for Australia at the same ground a year ago.

It seemed that he would crown his return with his fourth Test ton before he was bowled by an in-swinger from Chanaka Welegedara (3 for 99) just after tea.

"It was nice to get runs today, disappointing to get out then, would have been good to get three figures and beyond," Hughes told Grandstand.

"It wasn't to be, but on a personal note it was nice to get a few."

Hughes said his mindset going in was to play his natural game.

"There were periods of the game where it was quite tough (to bat) ... there were a few areas where they bowled quite straight, made it tough to score.

"But once you got in, you wanted to make the most of it.

"Early on they bowled quite well ... I had to leave early and play positively outside the off stump - that was probably the number one thing for me."

A year ago, Hughes left Hobart a distraught man after being caught cheaply in both innings against New Zealand after nicking to second slip off Chris Martin.

He has no doubt he is a tougher proposition to bowl at now.

"I feel like I'm totally a better player, being out of the team for 12 months, I had to do the work behind the scenes," Hughes said.

"My game's in pretty good order at the moment. It's nice to get a few - the confidence is quite high - I just want to push in and cement this number three spot.

"I've opened in 17 test matches for Australia and today was just a different challenge and I really enjoyed it.

"I have batted in various positions for state teams over the years but I really enjoyed (batting at) three and hopefully I can make it my own."

Hughes came to the wicket in the sixth over after Ed Cowan was caught after an uncharacteristic mistimed hook looped to Shaminda Eranga at midwicket off Welegedara.

David Warner batted well for his 57 before a mix up with Hughes saw him run out thanks to smart fielding from Angelo Mathews.

The other wicket to fall was Shane Watson (30) who drove Welegedara to Mahela Jayawardene at second slip.

It was a frustrating knock by Watson, the 13th time in 66 innings he has lost his wicket between 30 and 40, but one that typified his Test batting career - a solid start before losing his wicket after the hard work had been done.

Not for the first time this summer Michael Clarke (70) and Mike Hussey (37) solidified the innings, putting on an unbroken stand of 101 for the sixth wicket.

Clarke passed the 1,400-run mark for the year and has in his sights Ricky Ponting's record of 1544 set in 2005.

Hughes praised the way the captain and veteran left-hander dealt with the conditions in closing out the day on a pitch he felt "was a little bit up and down".

"A couple of deliveries kept low through the day. It will be quite interesting as the day goes on (tomorrow); I think it might play some funny tricks going on," Hughes said.

"There were periods there where they bowled well; there were periods where they let off.

"But there was an hour period after the lunch break where they bowled exceptionally well I thought.

"As a batsman you have to be more patient than the opposition, and Michael (Clarke) and Huss (Hussey) at the end they showed that."

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, hobart-7000

First posted December 14, 2012 18:57:04

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Hughes stars for Strikers in Perth

Updated December 11, 2012 08:58:14

Phil Hughes was the star as Adelaide Strikers opened their Big Bash account with a solid six-wicket win over the Perth Scorchers at the WACA with four balls remaining.

The Scorchers won the toss and chose to bat, and a target of 170-plus was clearly the goal for Adam Voges and his men.

Some tight bowling and excellent fielding by the Strikers restricted Perth at key moments.

Shaun Marsh opened strongly for the Scorchers, hitting three fours and three sixes in his 57 off 45 balls, while Adam Voges held the innings together with 58 off 41 deliveries, and a cameo innings of 14 off five balls by Nathan Coulter-Nile helped Perth to 6 for 162 off their 20 overs.

For Adelaide, Gary Putland took 2 for 39, while Nathan Lyon, Saeed Ajmal and Johan Botha chipped in with a wicket each.

Adelaide started slowly, with just 24 runs off their first four overs, then Michael Klinger began to hit out before falling for 19 in the sixth over off Joe Mennie.

Hughes then took charge, flaying the bowling with nine fours and one six in a stellar knock of 74 off 48 balls - which took the game away from the home side - before he was out to Brad Hogg in the 15th over, leaving the Strikers at 3 for 111, still needing 52 runs to win.

Big-hitting Nathan Reardon then took over, with a powerful knock of 42 off 26 balls.

The critical moment was Reardon and Theo Doropoulos (12 off 11 balls) taking 19 runs off Ben Edmondson (1 for 35) in the 18th over.

Adelaide ticked off the total with a boundary from Doropoulos, with Hughes named man of the match.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, perth-6000, wa, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted December 10, 2012 01:19:04

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Hughes in no rush to return

Updated October 31, 2012 20:53:59

This time Phil Hughes is in no hurry to rocket to the top of Test cricket.

Hughes' debut in 2009 as a 20-year-old was accompanied by a whirlwind of expectation, on and off the field.

The high life, typified by the ringside seat at Anthony Mundine's fights, was meant to accompany the high scores.

Almost four years later, it's the higher level of maturity that Hughes is banking on with his new team South Australia.

The maiden domestic one-day hundred he made on Tuesday night against Tasmania at Bellerive, on top of a stack of big scores already this season, showed it is paying off.

"There's never a rush, I feel," says Hughes, who in his second Test became the youngest player to score centuries in both innings.

"It's about taking it a day at a time.

"I've got age on my side. I'm still 23 - a lot of years ahead of me hopefully.

"I don't want to look too far ahead. It's about being patient really and taking it day-in day-out."

The former New South Welshman spent the Australian winter honing his technique with English side Worcestershire following his latest axing from the Test side last summer.

It had come after he'd infamously nicked New Zealand pacemen Chris Martin to slip Martin Guptill in all four innings of the two-Test series against the Black Caps.

"As a top order batsman, you're going to nick off a few times," he says.

"I've opened my leg-side play up hugely and put that into practice in county cricket.

"But I think the great players - Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, these type of guys - once they get in, they get really big scores.

"Going forward as a batsman, that's what I really want to do.

"If I get in, I want to make these big scores."

Hughes' captain at the Redbacks, experienced South African Johan Botha, says the talented left-hander should just be allowed to play.

Botha compares him to Proteas star Hashim Amla.

"(Amla's) changed it very slightly and now he's one of the best in the world," Botha says.

"I think Hughes is the same.

"I think the answer's just let him play.

"He will get out sometimes, we all get out, but he is only 23.

"Everyone's worried about his technique and so on but he's just worried about the amount of runs and that's the key.

"I think he'll definitely be back in the future."

Hughes says making more runs is enough for him at this stage of his career.

"I want to continue this form," he says.

"I suppose confidence is high so I want to continue it."

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, sa, australia

First posted October 31, 2012 20:53:59

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Reborn Hughes nears Shield ton for SA

Updated October 02, 2012 20:14:02

Phil Hughes closed in on a hundred on his South Australia debut as his teammates crumbled around him at stumps on day two of the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the Gabba.

In the wake of his dumping from the Australian Test side Hughes opted to leave New South Wales for South Australia this season and the move looks to have paid dividends immediately.

Hughes will resume on Wednesday on 95 not out as South Australia ended the day on 7-164, in response to Queensland's 398 all out.

Illustrating a tighter technique and buoyed confidence from good form for Derbyshire in English county cricket, the left-hander attacked the Bulls before tea hitting 63 off 69 deliveries, including 11 fours.

Then in the final session with South Australia already five wickets down, and with the Queensland bowlers maintaining a tight line, he made steady progress, adding 32 off 75 balls to move towards three figures.

Hitting all around the ground, Hughes looked as impressive as fellow Test hopeful Usman Khawaja did in scoring 88 on day one, though the Bulls' number three faced more difficult batting conditions.

The only batsman to give Hughes support was Tim Ludeman (28) with whom he put on 58 for the sixth wicket, before the wicket-keeper fell to leg-spinner Cameron Boyce.

Alister McDermott (2 for 23) began the South Australian collapse, dismissing opener Michael Klinger for one and Tom Cooper for five, before skipper James Hopes (3 for 26) knocked over Callum Ferguson (11), Travis Head for four and Redbacks captain Nathan Lyon for one.

All-rounder Sam Miller had a debut first-class innings to forget, falling to Luke Feldman for one.

Earlier, Ben Cutting recorded his maiden first-class hundred with a devastating display of hitting.

Coming to the wicket at six for 242, the fast bowler scored 109 off 78 balls including 12 fours and four sixes.

No bowler escaped punishment but he was particularly severe on Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon whose consecutive overs went for 32 runs.

The Redbacks even resorted to putting seven men on the boundary towards the end of the first session to stop Cutting reaching three figures, but he did so with a leg glance for two off the bowling of Miller from the last ball before lunch.

The Bulls had resumed at five for 202, James Hopes (47), Chris Hartley (34) and Cameron Boyce (31) also helped lift the Queensland total to a potentially match-winning one.

Gary Putland was the pick of the Redbacks bowlers taking 5 for 100.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, brisbane-4000, qld, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted October 02, 2012 19:21:02

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Hughes leads Redbacks in run chase

Updated October 03, 2012 19:48:22

South Australia will be relying on new recruit Phil Hughes on the final day of their Sheffield Shield match against Queensland after being set a massive victory target.

Chasing an unlikely 463 to win, Hughes ended day three unbeaten on 58 to take the Redbacks to 2 for 111 in their second innings at the Gabba.

Callum Ferguson is with Hughes at the crease on 31 not out.

It was the opener's second half-century of the match after being dismissed in the first over of the day for 95.

Looking as composed as he was during his first-innings knock, the left-hander was untroubled by the Bulls pace attack to further suggest the work spent refining his technique over the off-season has borne fruit.

"There are a couple of things I have tinkered with, I'm not going to lie, but I'm not going to talk about those things," Hughes said.

"When you have been putting hours in behind the scenes to score runs in the middle where it counts is a pleasing thing."

Bulls wicketkeeper Chris Hartley, who scored an impressive unbeaten 103 earlier in the day, believes Hughes has added variety to his game.

"He's playing the pull shot a lot more which I reckon is a great idea because he's only a short fella and he's going to get a lot of balls up around the chest and neck area," Hartley said.

"If the ball is in on his body, rather than try to fend it ... the fact he is playing [the pull] gives him a way to combat that.

Earlier, Hartley's seventh first-class century saved the Bulls from a precarious position.

Coming to the wicket after lunch with the score at 5 for 64, the gloveman hit his second successive century at Shield level following his hundred in last season's final against Tasmania.

James Hopes (42) and Ben Cutting (33) also made solid contributions before the Bulls prompted an early tea by declaring on 8 for 248 when Hartley reached his milestone.

Prior to the lower middle order firing, the Redbacks' inexperienced bowling attack opened up the game.

Chadd Sayers (3 for 66) bowled opener Andrew Robinson for a duck and later took the wickets of Peter Forrest (5) and Joe Burns (0) in consecutive deliveries.

Usman Khawaja (20) nicked behind to Joe Mennie (3 for 74) after looking in good touch and the paceman dismissed Wade Townsend (21) on the stroke of lunch.

Nathan Lyon continued his disappointing performance to end with match figures of 2 for 128 from 27 overs as he looks to be selected for the first Test against South Africa in Brisbane on November 9.

After resuming on 7 for 164, the Redbacks' first innings only lasted 9.1 overs on Wednesday as they collapsed to 184 all out.

Hughes fell without adding to his overnight score, nudging the second ball of the day from Hopes to Forrest at first slip. Hopes ended the innings with figures of 5 for 27.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, adelaide-5000

First posted October 03, 2012 19:23:48

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Hughes intent on regaining Test spot

Updated May 16, 2012 17:03:56

Dumped Australia opener Phillip Hughes says he is hopeful his stint in English County cricket will pave the way for his return to the Test XI.

Hughes has not played in the five-day arena since Australia's seven-run run loss to New Zealand in the second and final Test of their series in Hobart last December.

He and Usman Khawaja were notable omissions when Cricket Australia (CA) announced the Australia A squad to tour England in July and August.

The tour is designed to give Australia's up-and-coming players more exposure to first-class cricket ahead of the 2013 Ashes series in England.

Hughes instead will play for Worcestershire and Khawaja will ply his trade with Derbyshire.

The 23-year-old Hughes is keen to use his time in the various formats of County cricket to play himself into the type of form that will catch the eye of the Australian selection panel.

"I'm looking forward to getting to England and to play for Worcester and to play three forms of the game," he said.

"I think I can go out there and just enjoy myself and hopefully get as many runs as possible for Worcester."

Hughes, who averages 34.58 from his 17 Tests, has been training at CA's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane and has appreciated the opportunity to face some of Australia's battery of fast bowlers.

"To face the likes of Mitch Johnson and Patty Cummins out in the middle bowling full tilt at you, it's been a big challenge and it's been great training with those guys for a few days out here," he said.

Hughes leaves for England next Wednesday.

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom, australia

First posted May 16, 2012 17:02:49

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Struggling Hughes gets County gig

Updated December 13, 2011 13:23:13

After Australia opener Phil Hughes's ability was again called into question following another Test failure against New Zealand, Worcestershire announced they had signed him for the 2012 English county season.

Hughes fell early on the fourth day of the second Test in Hobart on Monday as Australia collapsed to 233 all out, handing the Kiwis a dramatic seven-run win.

But Worcestershire hope Hughes, a prolific scorer with county rivals Middlesex two years ago, can carry on from where he left off when he returns to English domestic cricket.

Although the county season starts in April, Hughes is not due at New Road until the first week of June but Worcestershire then expect him to stay until the campaign finishes in September.

"Phil is a heavy run scorer with a career ratio of a century every four games in first-class cricket," said First Division side Worcestershire's director of cricket Steve Rhodes.

"In 2009 he amassed 574 first class runs in three games for Middlesex including three centuries which demonstrates his hunger for run scoring."

Hughes, in a Worcestershire statement, said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be heading back to England in 2012.

"Worcestershire is a quality organisation and I can't wait to meet my new team-mates and re-acquaint myself with English conditions.

"My previous stint in England helped my batting enormously and I have high expectations that spending the 2012 Australian winter in the UK will do the same.

"I look forward to helping Worcestershire be a force in all forms of the game in 2012."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia, england, united-kingdom

First posted December 13, 2011 13:11:21

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Clarke admits Hughes out of chances

Updated December 13, 2011 07:34:43

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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Taylor backpedals on Hughes comments

Updated December 08, 2011 21:11:16

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor says comments he made about wanting Australian opener Phil Hughes to play in the second Test were "tongue-in-cheek".

Taylor had declared he would "love" Hughes to be picked for Hobart after he was dismissed cheaply twice in the same fashion during the first Test in Brisbane.

Black Caps paceman Chris Martin had the wood on the out-of-sorts opener, having him caught twice at gully by Martin Guptill and also dropped once in the slips.

Hughes was given another chance by Australian selectors on Thursday when he was named to play the second Test at Bellerive starting on Friday despite scores of 10 and 7 at the Gabba.

Asked whether that was a wish come true, Taylor backed away from his comments made at his post-Test media conference.

"I made a tongue-in-cheek comment that was made probably made a bit more of than it probably should have been," he said.

"He's still a world-class opener, he's still got three hundreds for Australia ... he's scored runs against us in the past and he scored more runs than I did in the last game so I'm sure he'll be fine.

"It wasn't that long ago where he scored an 88 against South Africa, which was an outstanding innings and put Australia on the front foot."

Facing Martin on a Hobart pitch expected to favour the seamers early would be a big test for Hughes, who has struggled outside off-stump.

Martin's angle caused the left-hander's problems in Brisbane but Taylor was coy about who would open the bowling.

"We've got three new-ball bowlers in the side so we'll just have to wait and see," the skipper said.

"He was probably the most consistent bowler out of the team."

Speculation is rife the Bellerive wicket will be a green-top, but Taylor said he was yet to examine it.

He said it had tended to play low on days three and four in Sheffield Shield matches.

"I've only seen the edges of it, the hession's been on the whole time but the little bits that we do see, it seems very green," Taylor said.

"When it's your third Test (as captain) you don't want to be lifting up the covers. Maybe when I've played 50 I might."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, hobart-7000, tas, australia, new-zealand

First posted December 08, 2011 21:11:16

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Hughes, Warner star for Australia A

Posted July 9, 2011 19:04:00

Phillip Hughes and David Warner starred for Australia A in a two-run win in its one-day match against South Africa A in Harare.

The pair, left out of Australia's one-day squad for next month's tour of Sri Lanka, combined for a 206-run opening partnership as Australia A posted 6 for 293 from its 50 overs.

South Africa A was then dismissed for 291 in reply, with Mitch Marsh taking 4 for 56.

Hughes, who could replace Simon Katich as Test opener, put in a man-of-the-match performance smashing 137 from as many balls.

Warner also contributed to the early attacking, hitting 120 from 137.

Australia A plays a two-day tour match starting on Monday, before two four-day games against Zimbabwe to finish the tour.

- AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, south-africa, zimbabwe

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