Born-again Test batsman Phil Hughes is out to make the Australian No.3 position his own after an impressive return to the international arena.

Hughes repaid the faith of selectors and reaped the reward of a massive amount of work, with Australia’s top score of 86 on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Returning to the scene of his darkest hour, the diminutive South Australian Redback looked a picture of form and confidence in a 166-ball innings that included eight fours and a six.

Hughes was dropped for the second, and many thought the last, time after a double failure against New Zealand in Hobart last summer.

But this time, as champion No.3 Ricky Ponting was driven off Bellerive in the ute he had farewelled fans from, the 24-year-old is determined to make a top-order position his.

“I’ve always opened but I really enjoy batting three,” Hughes said.

“Going forward I’d really love to cement that position and make it my own.”

That seems likely after Hughes notched the highest score by an Australian first drop in 28 innings.

His knock was chanceless until he was caught behind on 77 from a massive Chanaka Welegedara no ball.

He was out nine runs later for his highest Test score in Australia when an inswinging Welegedara delivery bowled him.

“I’ve worked on my game, no doubt about that,” he said.

“My technique, I knew I had to (improve).

“I have had to work on my leg-side play and … I feel like it’s in decent order at the moment.

“I thought I was a lot more patient through periods of my innings than I had been 12 months to two years ago.

“Mentally, knowing that I’ve been here before’s probably a good thing as well.”

Missing out on a fourth Test hundred couldn’t cloud Hughes’ relief at being back.

“I’m just pleased to get out there and back in the colours again and the smile’s on my face,” he said.

“It would have been nice to get to three figures and a few more but that’s cricket, that’s how it goes.

“To get 80-odd was a good thing for my confidence going forward now.”