Phil Hughes has celebrated his national squad recall with an unbeaten double century for Australia A against South Africa A.
The prolific lefthander was unbeaten on his highest first-class score of 243 as the rain-hit four-day clash at Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville finished in a draw on Sunday.
Hughes’ captain’s knock showed both his form and readiness after he was called up to replace the injured Shane Watson for Australia’s tour to Zimbabwe departing on Wednesday.
His knock came less than a month after he belted a record-breaking 151-ball double ton in a one-day match against the South Africans in Darwin.
It was also the second time he reached a hundred in the four-day format on the tour, following his final day 100 not out against India A at Allan Border Field in mid-July.
On Sunday, the 25-year-old Hughes resumed on 71 not out, brought up his double-century off 387 balls and went past his previous best first-class score of 204 shortly after the tea break.
He received good support from Callum Ferguson, who made 82 before being run out.
With day two of the match lost entirely to rain, there was little hope a result and the match ended with Australia on 3-454 in reply to South Africa A’s 333 in their first innings.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Spot on Relly
Rellum
Roar Guru
Burns and Carters might be ahead of Lynn in tow years time as well. Those three contentious batting spots might be very different in two years time.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The left hand right hand thing is totally over hyped. A good player is a good player.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Difficult to refute that logic SC. I wouldn't be moving Rogers either.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I said at the start of the summer when Hughes got dropped that he'd probably top the Sheffield Shield in scoring and go on to make a lot of runs in first class cricket, but the best thing for him and Australia would be to have to keep doing that for a bit longer than he'd probably like before getting another chance. That way he has more time to be really comfortable and confident in his technique and hopefully avoid the rabbit-in-headlights we've seen sometimes in test cricket where he just looks unsure of himself and like he's trying to work out what he needs to do to avoid being dropped, rather than trusting the technique that has scored so many runs for him and just batting. I stand by that. The best thing for Hughes and Australia will be for Rogers to bat well enough to get through the next season and give Hughes at least one more Sheffield Shield season of piling on big runs before he gets selected again, and then select him to open with Warner.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Nice top 7. I'd be stoked with that.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Maybe, but there have been plenty of batting lineups over the years with right-handers at 1, 2 and 3 and nobody ever said similar things about them. It's the same with the bowling I suppose. We like the variety of having a lefty like Johnson or Starc in the side, but the idea of picking all lefty pace bowlers doesn't feel right, despite the fact that nobody has ever questioned picking all right-handed pace bowlers. Pick the best players available, left or right doesn't really matter. If that can result in a nice mix of left and right-handers then that's a bonus, but you don't select based on that. I'd pick Hughes to open when Rogers is past it. In 2 years time I reckon the test batting lineup top 7 will be something like: Warner Hughes Smith Clarke Lynn Maxwell Whiteman
blanco
Guest
Rogers is an experience player.He won't have to change his game at all batting at 3.I don't think selectors will go that way.If I was a selector though I"d ask Rogers to bat 3.Its not like we haven't had 3 lefties in our top order before.Its about having your best players out there regardless of if they bat right or left.Is Doolan really the answer at 3?Hughes is a hundred test player.He needs to be in the team ASAP.
blanco
Guest
Rogers is an experience player.He won't have to change his game at all batting at 3.I don't think selectors will go that way.If I was a selector though I"d ask Rogers to bat 3.Its not like we haven't had 3 lefties in our top order before.Its about having your best players out there regardless of if they bat right or left.Is Doolan really the answer at 3?
Sideline Comm.
Guest
What whippy said, but also I don't know why on earth you would move a player who has played the vast majority of his career as an opener, has performed constantly there at an international level, and plays so well with Warner. There's plenty of time for Hughes.
Broken-hearted toy
Guest
It depends on the oppo bowlers. If you've got someone who feasts on lefties, you can get a batting team off to a very bad start if you have a 1.2.3 waiting like little lambs.
Antiwhippy
Guest
Dunno about having 3 left-handers in 1, 2 and 3. I think the difficulty of bowling against left-right combos are a bit over-rated by people but even so, I think there should be some variety to upset the rhythm of the bowlers.
blanco
Guest
Hughes opening doesn"t mean Rogers have to be dropped.Rogers would provide the stability we so desperately need at number 3.Sooner rather than later Hughes will be in the test team, he should be picked: 1.As an opener 2.When he is in form and has confidence.
deccas
Guest
I woud;nt drop him if he performs but I but I can't really see it happening. I don't think Doolan could last beyond a year or twoin a best case scenario. He will need to make himself indispensable in the UAE if he wants to play against India.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
I wouldn't ditch Doolan if he gets runs in the UAE.
jammel
Guest
As I've said before, Hughes should start versus India - batting at three. Little question about it now I'd say. Might be bye bye to Watto. I'd be ok with that if necessary….
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Hughes should open against India but Rogers should stay until the Ashes? Well I agree with one of those statements, I completely agree that Rogers should stay on if his form permits. Hughes' position is as an opener, and until a spot opens up he should stay in the shield. It looks like Watson will be fit for the october series, but if not then maybe Hughes will come in down the order, though I'd rather see Maxwell come in, considering the position and his ability to help with bowling.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Wow Another double ton. Runs are the currency and Hughes's wallet is pretty full at the moment.
blanco
Guest
Great performance from Hughes.Should definitely open against India.I think he and Warner would form a very good opening pair.Would be the best time to get him in with two of our young batsmen Warner and Smith doing well.Rogers should remain in the team till the ashes.His experience in English conditions will be vital.