Hughes shouldn’t change a thing, Langer says

Australia’s new batting coach Justin Langer is a big admirer of Phillip Hughes and says the self-styled opener should ignore the critics and stick to his guns.

Langer says Hughes, who enjoyed a brilliant debut series in South Africa earlier this year but was dropped after two Tests of the Ashes tour which followed, must draw on his mental strength rather than seek to tinker with his technique.

Langer says his long-time Test opening partner Matthew Hayden’s form troubles during last summer showed the “distractions” that players must battle.

Hayden eventually retired after the Sydney Test in January 2009, with Hughes making a dashing debut in South Africa a few weeks later as he scored twin centuries in his second Test.

“It’s almost like a hidden rule,” Langer told AAP via telephone after Hughes produced a stylish 79 for NSW in their drawn Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the SCG on Friday.

“Whenever you have a lean run, you (media) guys are all over people.

“Last year people said Haydos had technique problems. The press were all over him.

“It was more about his clarity of mind.”

Langer says Hughes, who like Langer is a tiny left-hander who loves to throw the bat at anything short and wide, need not concern himself too much with those who say he needs to make some adjustments to his technique against the bouncer.

“He’s playing fine. It (being dropped and fighting your way back into the side) is part of an Australian cricketer’s journey,” 105-Test veteran Langer said.

“It happened to Punter (Ricky Ponting), Haydos, Marto (Damien Martyn), even Shane Warne got dropped at one stage.

“When they came back they were even better players. Michael Clarke is an example.

“I’m an unabashed fan of Phillip Hughes. He’s fantastic.

“He’ll be back bigger and stronger, whether it’s in two weeks or two years.”

Hughes hasn’t been included in Australia’s Test 12 for Thursday’s first Test against West Indies in Brisbane, where all-rounder Shane Watson will open the batting with Simon Katich.

Watson made three half-centuries in the final three Tests of the Ashes series after replacing Hughes but there’s plenty of speculation that Watson will find himself batting down the order and playing a key role with the ball by the time England’s tour of Australia begins next summer, with Hughes back as opener.

Asked if he thought Hughes would return to the side for the 2010-11 Ashes series, Langer said he didn’t know. But he is clear on the best way forward for 20-year-old Hughes, the banana farmer’s son from Macksville in NSW.

“Phillip Hughes got a hundred in both innings in Durban (against South Africa in March),” Langer said.

“The only thing holding Phillip Hughes back is people telling him he has a technique problem.

“He shouldn’t change a thing. He just needs the strength of mind, which I’m sure he has.”

© 2010 AAP