Batsman Phil Hughes quits NSW, joins SA
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Test discard Phil Hughes says quitting NSW to join chronic under-achievers South Australia is the first move in the most critical years of his cricket career.
The 17-Test batsman will play for the Redbacks for the next three years, hoping the switch to the batter-friendly Adelaide Oval will prompt an Australian recall.
“The next two years are the most critical in my cricket career,” Hughes said in a statement on Thursday.
“And I’m not going to leave any stone unturned to make sure I put myself back into contention to play again for Australia.”
The 23-year-old, currently playing English county cricket, was last week overlooked for a Cricket Australia (CA) contract.
But he said the snub could rejuvenate his career, which stalled when dumped from the Test side in December last year.
“Missing a CA contract this year is not the end of the world,” he said.
“In fact, in lots of ways it’s a new beginning.”
Hughes’ axing from the Australian side after a lean trot against New Zealand was the second time he was dropped from the Test team.
The first was in England in July 2009 when told of his omission by then-selector Jamie Cox – ironically, the Redbacks’ cricket director.
“You develop bonds in funny ways,” Cox told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.
“I had a very strong connection to selecting Phil in the first place … and I unfortunately had the job of knocking on his door to say `sorry mate, we’re not playing you’.
“We have had a pretty good connection irrespective of that.”
Hughes will join a Redbacks outfit led by South African Johan Botha, who has replaced Michael Klinger as captain.
SA haven’t won a Sheffield Shield game since November 2010, an unsuccessful streak of 16 matches.
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The Crowd Says (19) | Page 1 of Comments
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June 29th 2012 @ 10:05am
Brett McKay said | June 29th 2012 @ 10:05am | Report comment
Usman Khawaja and Nathan Hauritz have today confirmed they’ve signed two years deals with Queensland. Last one to leave the SCG, turn the lights out…
July 2nd 2012 @ 3:08pm
jameswm said | July 2nd 2012 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
Brett we’ve got so many good young ‘uns coming through I’m not worried.
I think Khawaja needed the change, maybe Boof can get him going at the next level. He’s a smart operator Boof.
June 29th 2012 @ 10:46am
Pope Paul VII said | June 29th 2012 @ 10:46am | Report comment
Good to see the pioneer spirit still alive
Hughesy’s bound for South Australia
While Usi and Nathan have; “gone to Queensland droving, and we don’t know where they are”
June 29th 2012 @ 10:51am
tommy said | June 29th 2012 @ 10:51am | Report comment
I’m not sure this is a great move for Hughes for the following reasons:
1. Sure, he will dine out on the Adelaide Oval but how will this prepare him once he makes it back to the Test team?
2. Team success can be just as important as individual success in getting a test recall & you would think he would be better staying at NSW for this.
On the flip side Darren Berry is supposed to be an excellent coach..
Time will tell I guess but I must say I’m nervous for him.
July 10th 2012 @ 10:08am
Bayman said | July 10th 2012 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Tommy,
Team success may be important but Hughes didn’t get too much of that with NSW last season. They were pretty ordinary for most of the Shield campaign. Of course, their better players rarely get to play but that won’t change anytime soon.
Katich gone, Khawaja gone, Hauritz gone, Jaques gone, Clark gone and a coach who is yet to convince most people. The setup in NSW is certainly no better than anywhere else. In line with CA’s Argus Report the NSW state selectors this season will include the coach, captain and the performance manager (or whatever his title is this year). How many club games to you think that lot will see live?
They’ll be picking players based on the scores printed in the Sunday papers. I do believe that NSW has been convinced to include at least one extra selector, with a cricketing background, who may see some club cricket because he’s likely to be playing in it most weeks – Greg Mail. Given the circumstances a fifth selector might be nice but we’ll see in good time.
I don’t think Hughes will be missing much in NSW and he will love those square boundaries in Adelaide.
June 29th 2012 @ 11:50am
Disco said | June 29th 2012 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Khawaja to Queensland.
Hmm… perhaps Forrest will lose his Shield spot again.
June 29th 2012 @ 12:42pm
Red Kev said | June 29th 2012 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
Nah I would expect Lehmann to turn Khawaja into a genuine opener – god knows Queensland needs two decent ones.
Forrest will stay at no.3 or 4.
June 29th 2012 @ 1:02pm
Disco said | June 29th 2012 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
Possibly. But Khawaja’s the best number 3 in Australia.
June 29th 2012 @ 1:17pm
Red Kev said | June 29th 2012 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
I have faith in boof to turn him into the best opener in Australia.
June 29th 2012 @ 2:36pm
formeropenside said | June 29th 2012 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
bugger, we dont need more renegade New South Welshmen – its not like Khawaja was not getting a run for NSW (unlike Forrest), so I dont know why he came north. I mean, we hold the Shield so its not like we need him.
Also nice to see Hauritz eat his words about never coming home. He’s a good one day option but thats about it – he should not keep Doran out of the side, although his batting down the order is useful.
June 29th 2012 @ 2:57pm
Red Kev said | June 29th 2012 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
I beg to differ, if Queensland are weak it is in the top order.
Townsend played all 11 matches for an average just shy of 34 and was the best of the four openers used.
Broad played 8 games for an average of 26.
Robinson 6 games for an average of 29.
Kemp 3 games for an average of 14.
Assuming Boof wants him as an opener he’s a good get.
June 29th 2012 @ 2:05pm
Pope Paul VII said | June 29th 2012 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
Certainly should be reinstalled anywhere in top 6 at earliest opportunity. Boonie and Langer batted up and down the order before they settled.
June 29th 2012 @ 4:53pm
Disco said | June 29th 2012 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
Face doesn’t fit.
June 30th 2012 @ 8:53am
JohnB said | June 30th 2012 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Hughes or Khawaja?
Khawaja to open in Qld looks a good call, although he could as easily bat 3 – no-one made 3 their own last year. Burns batted there in the first half of the season and did ok, but went to 4 after that and they essentially played 3 openers in the top 3.
As point out above, runs in Adelaide may be a little easier to get than in other places – but may also be viewed that way. I don’t think moving there helped Michael Klinger get picked in any Australian teams.
June 29th 2012 @ 3:34pm
tonysalerno said | June 29th 2012 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
I think the change of scenery will do Hughes the world of good. However it is the place he is going that is making me cringe the most. I don’t think SA was the best place for the opening batsmen because the team does not bat in a NSW style of cricket. Besides Klinger and Dr. Harris have the opening batsmen positions at SA sown up.
I think Hughes would have been better off joining Khawaja and Hauritz in Queensland…
June 29th 2012 @ 4:55pm
Nick Jungfer said | June 29th 2012 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
Hope he can get back on track. As a South Aussie I’m in two minds. Great to have add a player of his calibre but its yet another player from interstate, too many for my liking but I understand the reasoning.
June 29th 2012 @ 6:41pm
Mick H said | June 29th 2012 @ 6:41pm | Report comment
Yeah, good luck to the young man.
Thrown to the wolves by no fault of his own with relentless media speculation and pressure. South Australia will be good for him, hopefully can focus only on cricket and his game, particularly the short ball weakness. Maybe throw some dollars at the curator for a bouncy pitch ?
June 30th 2012 @ 3:57am
Lolly said | June 30th 2012 @ 3:57am | Report comment
Good luck to him. I hope he gets his Shield form back. It will help SA no end.
July 4th 2012 @ 1:36pm
Brendon said | July 4th 2012 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
Happy to have him here in SA, not for Australia though, won’t get to many nasty short one’s on our deck.