Of course, net sessions don't always tell the full story. But sometimes the small, almost imperceptible moments can speak volumes, which is why Hughes's hour-long session yesterday suggests he has made a quantum leap both technically and metaphorically.
It was only a year ago that Hughes's confidence was so shot that Australian colleagues applauded his promising net shots and looked the other way when he repeatedly nicked off rookie quick Mitchell Starc, who was so reluctant to rub salt into the opener's wounds he gave up celebrating.
But Hughes's body language alone told a different tale yesterday. At 3.59pm, in his third incarnation a Test batsman, he walked into the nets.
The statement was instant. Nathan Lyon sent down a tepid warm-up ball.
Bang. Hughes stepped back quickly, concisely, and punched it through the covers.
The off-side has never been his Achilles. The more compelling evidence came later, when he produced two spanking pull shots, the most emphatic sign of the secret technical adjustments he made in the winter.
