Phil Hughes’ Bellerive nightmare has continued with the former Test opener making just one in the first innings of NSW’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.

Hughes’s most recent Test was at the Hobart venue, where he made four and 20 in a now infamous loss to New Zealand that led to him being dropped.

The left-hander skipped the Big Bash League in an attempt to rebuild his form and confidence at club level before returning to the Blues’ line-up for the Shield clash with the Tigers.

But, in tough conditions, he skied a nasty ball from paceman Jackson Bird (1-10) that was snapped up by Tigers keeper Brady Jones in the fourth over of the first morning to leave the Blues 1-4.

Sent in on another Bellerive green-top, NSW had recovered from the loss of Hughes and former Test No.3 Usman Khawaja for 21 to be 2-81 at lunch.

Steven Smith (34 not out) and Simon Katich (22 not out) had survived some hairy moments against the seaming ball, their luckiest when Katich was dropped by first slip Mark Cosgrove when the former NSW captain was 12.

Khawaja, who made a century in Saturday’s one-day match, looked to be mastering the conditions when he cover drove Luke Butterworth (1-26) for four in the 18th over to move to 21.

But next ball he was caught behind pushing forward and the Blues were 2-39.

Tasmania are fourth on the Shield ladder following Victoria’s win over South Australia but with this game in hand, while fifth-placed NSW need a victory to give their campaign some momentum.