Thaindian News

Sydney, Dec 6 (IANS) Australian opener Phillip Hughes might be struggling for form but teammate Michael Hussey feels the fellow southpaw will be amongst the runs very soon.

Hughes is the only player in the firing line with former captain Ricky Ponting hitting fifties in his last two innings. He found batting tough in South Africa and scores of 10 and 7 in the Gabba Test against New Zealand hasn’t helped his confidence either. It is only on four out of 17 occasions Hughes has crossed the 30-run mark.

Hussey reckons that Hughes is caught in two minds and should not curb on his natural instincts to get back to form.

“That is his signature shot, the cut shot and many times you have seen it whistle to the fence for four,” Hussey was quoted as saying by the Australian.

“So I certainly wouldn’t be saying to him to stop playing the cut shot because he has got so many runs from it and will continue to get many runs from it.”

Commending the hard work that Hughes puts in before every game, Hussey backed the beleaguered opener to put the lean patch behind.

“He works extremely hard and he knows the areas he has got to work on. I just think it is important for him to keep a real clear mind and keep playing his way. He has had success in playing his way.

“I reckon there is a big score for him literally around the corner, no question. He’s continually done that throughout his career. When he has been under pressure, (he has) been able to produce that big score just when we need it. And so I’m backing him definitely to do that again.”

Hughes has had a torrid time playing at home but has been prolific abroad, his three Test centuries and three half-centuries all have been scored on foreign soil and 10 of his 11 highest Test scores were made outside Australia.

Hughes was dropped by Brendon McCullum behind the stumps at the Gabba Sunday morning and, refusing to learn from his mistakes, he was out the very next ball, caught in gully.