It can’t be easy to bat on India’s turning pitches against a three-pronged spin attack, but surely Australia can find a better option than Phil Hughes.
The ex-Test opener and former No.3 was tried at No.4 on Friday in the third Test in Mohali and was out for two off 31 deliveries, caught down legside off the bowling of left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.
Hughes has scored 27 runs in the series at an average of 5.40 and has been painful to watch in action against the slow bowlers.
By way of comparison, tailender Mitchell Starc will resume on day three on 20 and he has scored 31 runs for the series. And that’s despite being dropped for the second Test.
Hughes has faced 82 deliveries from spinners in the series and has scored eight runs and lost his wicket five times.
The ray of hope for the tiny left-hander is that Australia’s schedule includes the Delhi Test against India starting on March 22 and then a five-Test Ashes series in England in July.
Australia opener Ed Cowan says there’s no reason why the 23-Test batsman can’t be a threat to England’s Ashes hopes.
“We all know how mentally strong Phil is and how hard he has worked to get back in the team,” Cowan said of Hughes, who regained his Test spot in December 2012 after a year-long absence.
“I don’t think there’s any correlation between scoring runs when the fast bowlers are bowling eight overs in the first 70 overs (in India) compared to the English guys swinging it around.
“He’s shown to be a really good player in English conditions.
“I don’t think any parallel can be drawn. You couldn’t get further apart, really.
“We’re confident that Phil is so mentally strong that there’s no doubt he will bounce back and bounce back quickly.”