David Warner says former Test opening partner Phillip Hughes is primed to fire at first drop in Australia’s first clash with Sri Lanka next week in Hobart.
Warner opened the batting with Hughes when the latter played his most recent Test a year ago at Bellerive, and believes the 24-year-old will prosper after being recalled to the national side for a third time.
“He’s worked hard during the off-season, scored a lot of runs over in England. Then he’s come here and been the leading runscorer in Shield cricket,” Warner said on Friday.
“We know what Phil’s like. When he scores hundreds, he usually scores big hundreds and that’s exactly what we need in the Test team.
“He’s a country boy – he’s laid back. He’s always relaxed and I don’t think he’ll get nervous at all.”
Allrounder Shane Watson was impressed with not only the runs Hughes had plundered, 518 this first-class season, but the fact he’s tweaked his technique with great success.
“I’ve been keeping a close eye on Phil because if there’s one thing he knows how to do it is score runs and a lot of them,” Watson said in Brisbane.
“This summer, seeing how he has just changed a few things with his technique, it’s been very impressive to watch.
“It means so much to him to fight his way back into the Australian team.
“He’s certainly made a couple of adjustments which are going to make a huge difference to him cementing his spot for a long period of time.”
AAP