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Australian cricket’s most prolific opening combination have called on Phil Hughes to be patient, saying he remains an outstanding prospect.
Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer also praised current Test opening batsmen Shane Watson and Simon Katich, but clearly rate Hughes highly as a long-term prospect.
Hughes was dropped during this year’s Ashes series, while Watson came so close to a maiden Test century in Adelaide this week after his surprise elevation to the top of the order.
Like Hughes, Hayden and Langer suffered through early setbacks in their Test careers before becoming two of the game’s all-time greats.
“The noose went around his neck very quickly, there’s no about that, but that’s the role of the national selectors,” Hayden said.
“They make their calls and they’ve been, I guess, rejoicing in the fact that an in-form Shane Watson has come in and done the job.”
Hayden also made a point of mentioning Phil Jaques as another discarded opener who would learn from his experiences.
Langer has no doubt that Hughes’ omission from the Test side, however long it lasts, can be the making of his career.
“What Phil Hughes is going through at the moment is almost the Australian cricketer’s journey, because we both came in early, as did Damien Martyn, as did Ricky Ponting, as did Michael Clarke,” Langer said.
“We had a little taste of that, then we were left out to go away and get better and stronger technically, physically, mentally.
“Then we came back and we were better players.
“I don’t care if Phil Hughes is two weeks off playing again, two months off playing, two years off playing, he’ll come back a stronger player and a better player and that will benefit Australian cricket.”
Speaking at a Victorian cricket function in Melbourne on Thursday, Langer also said the Australian Test team had to become tougher.
Australia lost the Ashes in England this year and also had to fight out a draw with the lowly West Indies this week after thrashing them in the first Test.
Langer is working with the Australian team as an assistant coach.
“I (say) that very respectfully, that’s my observation of Australian cricket at the moment,” Langer said.
“They’re a less-experienced side and they will only get harder by having the experiences of losing the Ashes, of losing in Australia last summer, of drawing a Test match like in Adelaide the other day.
“Equally they’ll get it from winning in South Africa and winning those great Test matches, it’s all about the hardening of a Test cricketer.
“This group isn’t as battle-hardened as the previous teams perhaps have been, we all have to be patient and they will get better – there’s plenty of talent and there are some excellent characters in there.”
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