While all the discussion surrounds who will bat at number six in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, the second opener slot also remains equally contentious.
Although David Warner opened in the last Test match, he since has been dropped for the ODI series of India and has been involved in yet another act of ill discipline.
This means the door is still open for Phil Hughes.
The selectors have already stated that the current ODI series in India will be take into account when the team is picked for the first Ashes Test.
Hughes has a golden opportunity to prove his worth, especially as an opener – a position in which Hughes averages higher than any other position he has batted in his 49 Test innings for Australia.
The day after the first ODI match, Hughes was quick to admit to the media that he is simply taking it one game at time and feeling relaxed after an extensive period on the sidelines.
“I suppose last few months I have been on the sidelines and just helping the boys being the 12th or 13th man, it’s just nice to get out there and play some cricket,” he said. “I’m just relaxed and like the way things are going, take it a day at a time and not look too far ahead.”
Hughes returned to his customary opening position, scoring 47 from 53 to provide an early impetus to the Australian innings.
Asked if he has always preferred to open the batting, Hughes stated he was prepared to bat anywhere, although he had spent most of his junior days and his initial phase in the Australian team as an opener.
In his last 17 innings, Hughes has batted in four different positions and been made a scapegoat for Watson and Warner’s preference to open the batting.
The fact of the matter is Hughes averages 36 as an opener and 28 in the other positions he has batted for Australia. On his day, Hughes can be equally as devastating as an opener, but seems to struggle when he has to start against spin.
In his 49 innings in Test cricket, Hughes has been a victim to spinners on 18 occasions – nearly 40 percent of his dismissals. It is a game he has been working hard on given the time he has spent on the subcontinent, the home of spinning tracks and spinners.
Hughes has really struggled to rotate strike against spinners and it would be baffling for the selectors to bat him in the middle order and expose him to Swann in the Ashes.
The ODI series will present Hughes an opportunity to face the new ball and then learn to manipulate the ball into gaps once the spinners are introduced in the middle over’s.
If Hughes can score an abundance of runs in India as an opener, a position in which he averages better than Warner, he could well be opening with Chris Rogers in Brisbane.
kurt83
Roar Rookie
How's about Khawaja to partner Rodgers at the top?
Dan Ced
Guest
I haven't seen Usman's innings.. but Klinger is top of the run scorers and he opens.
Stephen Martin
Guest
The difference between Englaish batsmen like Root, Cook and Trott and Hughes (or Khawaja, or Watson, etc) isn't about talent. When the English players become aware of a flaw, they either work on eliminating it, or failing that, drop the wicket-losing shot or manoeuvre from their repertoire. Hughes etc don't, and it becomes a continuing liability. Why is this? Not sure...do the English have a coaching infrastructure that identifies flaws and how to fix them? Is Cricket Australia so committed to one-day cricket that they would rather see players score fast forties than slow hundreds?
Dan Ced
Guest
Klinger got 91 today, highest run scorer in Ryobi so far, playing some quite mature and controlled innings. Would be handy in any of the 3 Aussie teams. I hope they give him a shot in one of them Fanboy out.
Praveen
Guest
Khawaja is letting his bat do the talking
Manoj
Guest
Saw the innings guys, UTK is looking very impressive, great to see Warner hit some form too
Ken Hambling
Guest
Khawaja is looking great Bearfax, he hit Lyon for 2 sixers as well and was trying to be aggressive which is what i want to see from him. He along with Klinger has been the most consistent batsman so far and i am tipping he will get back in the ashes squad.
Ken Hambling
Guest
I liked what i saw from Warner today and i want to see him get more runs on more difficult tracks. I am tipping Warner will partner Rogers in Brisbane. Khawaja continues his great Ryobi form and it won't go unoticed by Rod Marsh who is shown attending all the Ryobi games. Hughes will need to score in the shield games on his return to Australia but a break from the test side may do him good.
soapit
Guest
didnt ponting get dropped 4 times?
JGK
Roar Guru
And was out stumped to a right hand offie.
Bearfax
Guest
Ussie has just scored his third 60+ score in a row in the one day matches as an opener
Anthony
Guest
It's interesting. I remember hearing a number of commentators such as Mark Waugh say they think he'll end up an opener. I certainly regard his work against the quicks higher than I do Hughes' or Warner's.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
neither Warner or Hughes should open. I would consider Ussie as he is weakest against Swann's spin, but looks all class against the quicks. He has opened often for QLD. Other than him, Cosgrove, Klinger, Maddinson(maybe blood him in the later tests depending on how bad the series is going) etc should be looked at as well. Need some mature heads in the side just as Rogers provided
Bearfax
Guest
I suspect the troubled four Khawaja, Hughes, Smith and Warner are going to have big summers this year. Maddison and Silk look also set to be starting OK.
Hookin' YT
Guest
Warner has a technically correct style? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Bearfax
Guest
Oh the kid has the ability to play test cricket. He's done it and done it better than his colleagues on occasions. But like most young batsmen he's inconsistent. He also. like Khawaja, has a serious confidence problem. He's a much better batsman than Bailey or Klinger or Fergoson et al. I watched a programme with a bunch of experts who were describing some of Australia's young bucks who are under the pump. Said you can see the stress and fear in the demeanour before they go out to bat. That's hopefully where someone like Boof will encourage them to relax and go out and enjoy their batting. Sure they've got some faults, but in first class cricket standards, players like 30 something Bailey, Finch, Marsh, Klinger, Ferguson (he's 28) etc have far bigger faults otherwise they wouldnt have averages in the mid 30s, but no one seems to focus on them like we do with our young up and comers..
Samual Johnson
Guest
True, but one day cricket is a completely different game to tests. Would you like me to tell your the differences? It is pretty well documented. As I said before and plenty of others before me, Hughes just does not have the ability to play test cricket to the standards that Australia needs him to play in order for us to win. Give someone else a try. We are a nation of cricketers there are plenty of other players around.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
And yet he still managed to score 83 against India in India last night.
Ken Hambling
Guest
I think warner today has put this argument to bed, he is a better opener then Hughes, Hughes had a failed test series against India and in the ashes as well, he needs to go back and work out his batting against the moving ball and good spin.
Gr8rWeStr
Guest
Hughes' current Test average as an opener is down to 34.58 compared to Warner's at 38.13, unfortunately for Australia both are in decline. Warner's average opening in Australia is 49.83, Hughes' just 14.58. Pretty much every Test statistic for opening the batting relevant to the upcoming Ashes series shows Warner to be the statistically better option. On recent Test form there is no reason to select Hughes over Warner. IMO, Warner also has the more technically correct batting style and, therefore, is more likely to succeed in the long term. I do agree that if Hughes plays he must open but not replacing Warner for the upcoming Ashes series.