Hughes aims for all season (From Worcester News)

Hughes aims for all season

10:00am Friday 23rd December 2011 in WCCC

AUSTRALIAN batsman Phillip Hughes wants to spend the entire 2012 season with Worcestershire.

Hughes, 23, initially accepted a deal to be the County’s overseas player for the second half of the campaign.

But now the former Hampshire and Middlesex star’s representatives are talking again with New Road top brass, offering his availability for the whole summer.

He averages a disappointing 34.58 from 17 Test matches and has been left out of Australia’s five-day squad for the Boxing Day encounter with India in Melbourne.

Hughes is desperate to reclaim his spot and believes a full county season will help to iron out some of the technical flaws which have restricted him at Test level.

His manager James Henderson said: “Phillip has currently signed to play for Worcestershire from early June, when the t20 competition starts, right through to the end of the county season in September.

“But he has expressed interest in joining them earlier — for the start of the county season in April.

“Our representative in the UK is having those discussions with the County.

“I would hope we get an early resolution and that Phillip signs for the whole of Worcestershire’s season.”

Cricket Australia officials have encouraged Hughes to polish his skills at New Road to further his experience a year out from back-to-back Ashes series in 2013-14.

The New South Welshman has fallen behind the pecking order of Australian opening batsmen with former Durham player David Warner taking centre stage.

“Worcestershire’s wicket can be tough, especially when opening, so it will really test me out,” Hughes said.

“It’s the challenge I want. I expected not to be picked for the Boxing Day Test. I haven’t got enough runs in the past few weeks so I fully understand it.

“Pulling out of the Big Bash League (Australia’s new domestic Twenty20 competition) has given me the opportunity to train and work on my game as hard as possible.

“I love t20 cricket but, right now, the most important thing is to concentrate on what I have to do to get back into the Test team.”