Hughes’ place in Oz squad for India Test series in doubt

Sydney: With the Cricket Australia (CA) selection panel under pressure to strike the right balance in the batting order, it is being said that opening batsman Phillip Hughes needs a big score in the second Test against New Zealand or must be discarded for the four-match series against India.

Hughes had a wondrous start to his Test career, scoring 415 runs at an average of 69.17 in his maiden series against South Africa, but his numbers since leave him vulnerable to the axe. Since that series, the 23-year-old has scored 626 runs from his past 13 Tests at an average of 28.45. Hughes also has only two scores above 36 in his past 16 Test digs. With scores of 10 and 7, he has also failed in the opening Test against New Zealand in Brisbane. ANI