AAP
Of all his Australian Test call-ups, Phil Hughes rates this the most special.
And Hughes wants to be judged on runs, rather than technique, when he makes his third coming as an Australian batsman in the first Test against Sri Lanka starting next week.
"It is actually really special this time," Hughes told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.
"The sacrifices that I have made in the last 12 months have been quite big. I knew I had to do them ... so to me, I can go in there with a fresh mind."
A year after being axed in Hobart with his home-spun style unravelled, Hughes will return to the Tasmanian capital reluctantly described as a replacement for retired great Ricky Ponting.
"There is no one out there that can replace Ricky Ponting," Hughes said.
Selectors revealed they protected the 24-year-old Hughes from the world's top Test nation South Africa in the just-completed Test series.
Instead, selectors threw 30-year-old Rob Quiney to the South African wolves, and opted to return to Hughes for the comparatively-easier Sri Lankans.
"We did feel that throwing him (Hughes) in against the world No.1 with their attack was probably not the ideal set of circumstances for him," Australian chairman of selectors John Inverarity told reporters in Perth on Thursday.
Hughes didn't realise he was shielded from South Africa.
"I haven't heard it ... and I'm just grateful to play this Test match," he said.
Inverarity and co-selectors also summoned rested pacemen Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus for injured quicks John Hastings (back) and Josh Hazlewood (foot) from the side that lost to the Proteas in Perth.
Hughes' inclusion, for his 18th Test match, will likely prompt a recast of the batting order with the left-hander expected to take the pivotal first-drop slot from vice-captain Shane Watson.
"In the end, that is up to (captain) Michael Clarke having a discussion with some of his players, and (coach) Mickey Arthur to decide," Inverarity said.
"But Shane Watson opening, batting number three, batting number four, batting number six - they're all options for him."
Hughes said he would bat anywhere, believing in his technical changes honed in a year of personal sacrifice which involved a stint in county cricket and a move from NSW to South Australia.
"The sacrifices that I have had to make the last 12 months have been quite huge, really," he said.
"To move away from my family and my close friends in Sydney, and to go to Worcestershire for a season and now to come to South Australia, it has been a huge change for me.
"I had to change a couple of things but I feel comfortable ... I have had chances before but I'm grateful for this one and I just hope I can really get in there and cement my spot."
No comments:
Post a Comment