Test discard Phil Hughes fell short of a confidence-building first-class century, but may have given selectors an indication that he’s on the comeback following a disastrous 2011.
NSW, coming off a humiliating innings loss to Western Australia by an innings and 323 runs last week, built around Hughes to reach 4-207 in their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland before rain ended the day’s play with 29 overs remaining at the SCG.
In overcast conditions and on a green-top, Hughes set the tone early with aggressive strokeplay to score a valuable 73, but coach Anthony Stuart admitted the feisty left-hander was disappointed to miss out on his 18th first-class ton.
With a century beckoning, Hughes, who struck 15 boundaries in the 121-ball knock, was trapped lbw by Steve Magoffin (1-36).
“Obviously it was a tough day … I thought all the boys did a tremendous job,” Stuart said.
“It was a shame that he didn’t go on and get his 100 but it certainly wasn’t through (not) wanting to spend as much time out there as possible.
“It was good to see him back himself and get through some tough periods, but unfortunately he couldn’t quite crack the triple figures I think he was after.”
Stuart said Hughes had been through a tough period since his Test dumping, but was confident the 23-year-old had come through the other side.
“I think Phil’s copped more than a lot of blokes I can remember from the New Zealand Test series onwards,” Stuart said.
“He was really front and centre there for a while. I certainly didn’t envy him.
“There was a lot of speculation and it would’ve been a tough period for anyone I think.”
And while it was the first step on the road to redemption for Hughes, another Blue struggling for form, Brad Haddin, looks far less certain of himself despite being 10 not out at stumps.
Allrounder Steve Smith (40 not out) was the other unbeaten batsman at stumps.
It was a horror day in the field for Queensland’s Chris Lynn, who dropped Hughes on four in the third over of the match and Haddin on two, both off the bowling of Test quick Ryan Harris.
Harris (3-69) was easily the pick of the bowlers, bouncing back from being dropped from Australia’s one day team with a day of high-quality fast bowling to remove Nic Maddinson (13), Usman Khawaja (15) and Simon Katich (42).
Katich was also the beneficiary of sloppy fielding when he was dropped in the gully by Ben Cutting off the bowling of Bulls skipper James Hopes just five runs into his innings.
Second-placed Queensland will be desperate for the rain to stay away for the remaining three days of the match – a win against the fifth-placed NSW would put them in the box seat for a spot in the final.