Damien Fleming says Phil Hughes should be dropped for Australia's third Test against India in Mohali..
By Antony Pinshaw, Cricket Editor FOX SPORTS March 06, 2013 3:30PM
Phillip Hughes should be axed for the third Test after a horror run saw him dismissed four times in 37 balls without scoring a run against India's spinners.
That's the verdict of Fox Sports commentator Damien Fleming, who, despite being a big fan of Hughes, says he cant see how the South Australia batsman can stay in the XI for the Mohali Test. .
Australia's batting lineup as a whole has come under immense pressure following their capitulation against India in Hyderabad, but Hughes in particular has looked the most likely fall-guy after returns of 6, 0, 19 and 0 in the series so far.
Having returned after seemingly conquering his flaws against short-pitched pace bowling, India's tweakers have now exposed a new chink in the 24-year-old's armour.
"He wouldnt be playing in the last two Tests in my team. Hughes has to go," Fleming told foxsports.com.au.
"If you look at the stats, hes lost his wicket four times to spin in his last 39 balls faced, and hasnt scored a run in that time.
"Its time for him to have a rest and if he gets the opportunity to play against spin again, hes got to have a plan like Matthew Hayden did. Im sure a young Matthew Hayden would have struggled in Indian conditions, but he knew it was a deficiency and worked on it."
Dropping Hughes would leave a two-horse race between Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith to get the call-up, with Fleming suggesting Smith could be a surprise selection.
The former Test paceman did have words of encouragement for Hughes, saying he should still be right in the reckoning to return to the side for the Ashes tour.
As for the rest of Australias batsmen, Fleming didnt hand out too many compliments.
"Im not really sure about our batsmens plans against spin," Fleming said.
"We underachieved by about 250 runs with the bat, and that meant Australia were always behind the eight-ball.
"Lots of questions have been asked about the bowlers, but I think the bigger problem is the batting. Theres just no scoreboard pressure."
Fleming was particularly disappointed with the recent trend of using Matthew Wade at No.6, noting that even the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman of all time, Adam Gilchrist, very rarely batted that high in the order.
When it comes to the bowlers, Fleming is adamant one man must come into the side.
"All along I would have liked Mitch Johnson to have played," he said.
"His record in Test cricket in India is good, and his record in one-day cricket there is outstanding.
"Traditionally Mohali hasnt been as dominated by spin as the first two venues (Chennai and Hyderabad), so unless they get to Mohali and it looks like the last two pitches, Id be bringing him in."
As has often been the case in years gone by, Australias ability both with and against spin has been found wanting.
Fleming believes the answer lies as much with administrators as it does with the players.
"Superman had his kryptonite, but obviously spin is our kryptonite, both bowling it and batting against it," Fleming said.
"Really, we dont get a lot of practice (with spin) playing in Australian conditions.
"It also says to me that we really should have fought to have three four-day games leading into the Test matches, with every player getting two games.
"I dont like our scheduling, I dont think its given us the best chance to prepare well.
It may sound simplistic, but it could be said one of the few positives to come out of the Hyderabad loss is that the only way is up.
"Youd imagine things couldnt get worse, so hopefully the Aussies can put it behind them."
