Tim Paine urges Phillip Hughes to fill the gap left by Simon Katich – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Simon-Mathew-Katich-c90404, to open the Kangaroo innings with Shane
Watson.
As http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 A is set to visit Zimbabwe this week to play 4 one dayers and 2 four-day games, Paine thinks that it is an ideal chance for Hughes to prove his mettle and cement his place in the national team.
Talking to the media, Paine said, “Hughesy has got to a stage where he knows his game fairly well. He obviously finished off his season really well (for NSW). We will be expecting him to be playing the way Hughesy does.”
The 22-year-old left-handed batsman has played 10 Tests in his national cricket team. However, he has 55 First-class, 43 List A and 17 T20 matches to his credit. His batting average in First-class cricket has been marvellous.
Hughes made his Test debut against South Africa in 2009. However, he is still waiting for his maiden ODI.
Hughes was called to replace the injured Katich during the Ashes 2010, but the batsman could not do well with the bat.
After the exit of Katich from the contract list for this season, Hughes seems to have lucky chance to make inroads in the team.
Katich has recently been axed by the English selectors, when they announced the new list of centrally contracted players. The batsman has been a batting average of 50 throughout his career. He also performed excellently in the Ashes series.
Katich’s illogical termination has drawn criticism from all circles of the society. Both the former and current Kangaroo players have opposed this move.
However, Katich has decided to play for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823, his state side, during this season.
The Aussies are set to tour http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 later this summer to play bilateral series and they need a reliable opening batsman.
Paine thinks that Hughes can be a good option for the selectors if he performs well during the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 tour.
Hughes has recently picked up tremendous form by playing the Sheffield Shield tournament and is hopeful of sustaining the momentum.
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