Melbourne, July 31 (Inditop.com) Former Australian openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer have decided to take struggling youngster Phil Hughes under their wings.
Hayden promised that he and Langer would counsel Hughes and help him return stronger as the selectors’ decision to sack the 20-year-old ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston in the ongoing Ashes series drew flak from the country’s former cricketers.
After scoring just 57 runs at an average of 19 in the first two Ashes Tests, Hughes was replaced by Shane Watson, who is also making a comeback from injury.
Hayden and Langer were Test cricket’s second most successful opening combination, behind West Indian greats Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge.
“Phil Hughes will be embraced by a strong opening partnership, Justin Langer and myself, who believe very strongly in providing support to opening partners,” Hayden was quoted as saying in The Australian.
“I am looking forward to sitting down with Phil and trying to pass on as much experience as I possibly can.”
A dejected Hughes has already started being counselled by Hayden.
Hayden, and current opener Simon Katich, spoke at length to Hughes on the field at Edgbaston before play was scheduled to start in the third Test last night.
Hughes had been hailed as Australia’s new batting wonderchild after two centuries on the tour of South Africa but technical deficiencies against the short ball aimed at his body proved his undoing.
rounak