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Phil Hughes mustn't wither on the vine

Phil Hughes. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Expert
19th August, 2014
39

Australian coach Darren Lehmann and skipper Michael Clarke must use recalled batsman Phillip Hughes during the ODI series against South Africa and Zimbabwe in Harare.

Hughes, who has made more comebacks than Dame Nellie Melba thanks to selector’s whims, has been given yet another chance with injury-prone all-rounder Shane Watson ruled out with an ankle problem.

Hughes was dead-set unlucky, yet again, to be left out of the original squad after a month a heavy scoring.

Five days ago the 25-year-old leftie cracked an unbeaten 243, his highest first class score, for Australia A against South Africa A in a Townsville four-dayer.

That’s on top of his 202* for Australia A against India A in a 50-over game in Darwin. and 100* against India A in Brisbane in another four-dayer when he combined with Alex Doolan for an unbeaten opening stand of 202 – Doolan scored 91*.

When Hughes is on, and the last month has conclusively proved that, selectors mustn’t treat him as a net batsman as they have done before, and they did with Usman Khawaja in India.

But Lehmann has already shown his cards, suggesting Hughes will have to bide his time, even though David Warner isn’t touring, staying in Sydney for the birth of his first child.

Aaron Finch is assured of an opening berth, and so he should be, leaving Brad Haddin, even Michael Clarke, as Finch’s partner.

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Hughes would be by far the best bet in his current mood, Clarke at three, Steve Smith four, Glenn Maxwell five, George Bailey six, Haddin seven, then the bowlers.

That’s a mighty strong lineup, and with the likes of pacemen Mitchell Johnson, James Faulkner, and Mitchell Starc down the order, all of whom can punish any attack.

Let’s see what happens in the selection of Australia’s first game of the series against Zimbabwe on August 25, and South Africa three days later.

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