Hughes call-up is blow to Worcestershire

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Worcestershire’s hopes of avoiding relegation in the LV= County Championship have suffered a major setback with opening batsman Phil Hughes being called into the Australia A squad for their four-day match against England Lions, starting at Edgbaston tomorrow (August 14).

Hughes has been out of favour with the Australia selectors since he was dropped from the Test squad last December and he was not included in the initial A team tour party. But he has been drafted in to temporarily reinforce an injury-depleted squad having impressed in all forms of cricket since he joined Worcestershire in late May.

He made his first Championship century for Worcestershire in last week’s defeat by Warwickshire at Edgbaston and became the first Worcestershire batsman in four years to carry his bat. But Hughes’s call up means that Worcestershire will be missing a key batsman and their overseas player for their relegation showdown with Lancashire which starts at New Road on Wednesday.

Worcestershire  expect Hughes to be back on county duty for Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Leicestershire at New Road and to be available for their remaining County Championship matches.

“From a club's point of view, we are obviously disappointed as Phil will now miss our vital County Championship home match against Lancashire this coming Wednesday, but we understand that his country commitments come first,” said Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes.

"Phil has performed well since arriving with us in May and we wish him the best of luck this week. We look forward to him returning to New Road for our CB40 match against Leicestershire as well as for our four remaining LV= County Championship matches."


Date: 13/08/2012 11:28:54 by Paul Bolton
In: Worcestershire | Today |