It’s hard to change a winning Test team, but Phil Hughes is forcing selectors to ask the question following another Sheffield Shield century.

Hughes’ 118 during a six-hour stay at the crease on Monday rescued South Australia from the dire position of 3-82 to be 5-288 at stumps on day two in reply to NSW’s first innings of 373.

It is his third ton of the summer and cements his place as the next in line for Darren Lehmann’s Test team.

Hughes will find it hard to force his way in during the Ashes, which Australia currently leads 2-0 while taking an unchanged squad to Perth for Friday’s third Test.

But he could find himself on a plane to South Africa for the three-Test tour in February.

That’s the position he’s put himself in through sheer weight of runs plundered this summer.

Hughes has had three lives in Test cricket already – having been dropped in England in 2009, after a disastrous home series against New Zealand in 2011-12 and again in England this year.

But he’s returned with a point to prove in the Shield, where he has smashed 547 runs at an average of 68 – second only to 34-year-old Marcus North (593 at 98.8).

All of his trademarks were on display at the SCG as he cut and drove with distinction during a 144-run partnership with Callum Ferguson – who also batted superbly to hit an impressive 80 as the pair rescued the Redbacks.

Hughes was subjected to a short-pitched barrage from young Blues allrounder Sean Abbott (0-28 off 18 overs), but resisted the temptation to hook with two men back on the boundary.

Trent Copeland, the pick of the Blues’ bowlers, eventually had Hughes caught at slip after he extracted some extra bounce from a mostly gentle pitch.

Copeland finished with figures of 3-83 after also taking two wickets in the morning session.

Trailing by just 85, the Redbacks are well positioned to take first-innings points in the top-of-the-table clash.

Johan Botha (32no) and Tim Ludeman (0no) will resume the innings on Tuesday morning.