Recalled batsman Phil Hughes will get at least two Tests against Sri Lanka to prove he belongs in the Australian set-up long term.
A year after being axed, Hughes has been summoned into the Australian side for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart, starting on December 14.
Australian chairman of selectors John Inverarity said Hughes beat Rob Quiney, Usman Khawaja and Alex Doolan for the batting spot vacated by retired veteran Ricky Ponting.
Although the exact batting order is yet to be decided, the most likely scenario is Hughes coming in at No.3, allrounder Shane Watson shifting to No.4 and captain Michael Clarke remaining at No.5.
Also named in the 12-man squad were Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, who were rested from Australia’s 309-run loss to South Africa at the WACA due to their heavy workloads in the previous Test.
Josh Hazlewood (foot) and recent Test debutant John Hastings (back) dropped out of the squad due to injury.
Siddle and Mitchell Johnson are lock-ins to feature against Sri Lanka in Hobart, meaning Hilfenhaus will have to battle it out with left-arm quick Mitchell Starc for the remaining pace spot.
Hughes played the last of his 17 Tests against New Zealand in Hobart last December.
Inverarity is confident the 24-year-old has since made the necessary tweaks to his game to succeed at the highest level.
And although Hughes hasn’t been guaranteed to feature in all three Tests against Sri Lanka, Inverarity gave a strong hint the left-hander would play at least the first two Tests in Hobart and Melbourne.
“When I phoned him, I did say to him ‘I’ll see him in Melbourne’. But I didn’t tell him he’s got the (whole) series,” Inverarity said.
“We look to Phil Hughes to be one of our players for the future – a real long-term player.
“I think Phil’s in a very good place at the moment.
“His technique, if you watched him closely 12 months ago and now, his scoring range is very different.
“He’s scoring through the leg-side, off his pads much better, driving on the on-side and pulling short balls, which wasn’t the case 12 months ago.
“So I think he’s developed his game and it’s much harder now for bowlers, in a sense, to corner him.”
Squad: Michael Clarke (Capt), Shane Watson (vc), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Lyon.