Hughes to open if Clarke is absent
By Ben Horne
18:50 AEST Sat Aug 23 2014
In-form left-hander Phil Hughes is set to be catapulted to the top of the Australian one-day batting order should captain Michael Clarke spend time on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
Coach Darren Lehmann declared Hughes to be "in the form of his career" and up to the task in the tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa starting on Monday, after smashing two double centuries and an unbeaten ton for Australia A over the past six weeks.
Hughes was originally left out of the 14-man squad for the round robin series staged in Harare, but was included as a late replacement for the injured Shane Watson.
Now a second fitness setback for a high-profile star is likely to give the enigmatic run-scorer a golden chance to impress selectors ahead of next February's one-day World Cup to be staged on home soil and in New Zealand.
Clarke resumed light training duties on Saturday after breaking down in the warm-up of the team's first session in Harare on Friday, but it's doubtful he would be rushed back for Monday's opener against Zimbabwe, with Australia facing a hectic schedule for the coming 12 months.
Lehmann said the 25-year-old would open the batting for Australia on Monday should Clarke not pull through.
"You would probably look at Hughes coming in, and he's in the form of his career," said Lehmann.
"So that probably makes him open if he comes into the side, I would think.
"(Hughes) has been in great form on that A tour and we want to get him back in the side because we rate him really highly.
"If he wasn't (coming in for Clarke) then we would probably go with (Brad) Haddin to open."
Hughes, who hasn't played Test or one-day international cricket since 2013, is expected to open the batting against Zimbabwe alongside Victorian power-hitter Aaron Finch.
Hughes has been a prolific run-scorer at first-class and domestic 50-over level, however after numerous incarnations in the Test side, he is yet to cement his place on the international scene.
But his dominant batting performances against touring India and South Africa A sides in Darwin and Townsville over July and August have offered him fresh hope in both formats.
Australian medical staff are hopeful Clarke's left hamstring tweak isn't serious, and the man himself - who has a history of chronic back trouble - said on Saturday he was feeling much better.
"It's a little setback for us but it gives someone else an opportunity if he doesn't come up," said Lehmann.
"We've just got to make sure that when he gets back, whether it's Monday for the game or whenever it may be, that he's ready to go."
