Thaindian News

Sydney, Aug 5 (ANI): English county team Hampshire is willing to give Australian opener Philip Hughes every opportunity to reclaim his Test spot for the Ashes by offering him much-needed match practice, but has no time for Kevin Pietersen.

Hughes will play for the first time in six months for Hampshire in September, having recovered from a dislocated shoulder suffered during boxing training.

Hampshire refused to give Pietersen much needed match practice when he had asked to play for limited-overs side two weeks ago before the Pakistan series.

The county was annoyed that Pietersen had announced plans to leave them after this season, and England coach Andy Flower’s request that his star batsman get time in the middle after injury rehabilitation fell on deaf ears, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Hughes embarks on a comeback trail in hope of regaining his Test place in time for October’s tour of India and then the home summer against England.

Hampshire’s coach Giles White said: “We don’t see it like that. We’re looking to win games for Hampshire.

“We’ve got some good young players. Phil replaces Neil McKenzie, who is going to play in the Champions League [Twenty20] for the Lions. We needed a quality batsman for that spot, and Phil fits the bill perfectly.”

White is confident the trauma of the Ashes last year will not haunt Hughes. “I just feel from the outside, he is the sort of player who will come to terms with these sorts of things. He has been a major run-scorer in Australia,” White said. (ANI)