Cricket Australia fills Ricky Ponting void with Phil Hughes

By Nadene Smith

SYDNEY, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 6, 2012: The National Selection Panel of Cricket Australia on Thursday picked Phil Hughes over Usman Khawaja, Rob Quiney and Alex Doolan to fill up the void created by retirement of legendary Ricky Ponting.

The NSP announced a 12-man squad for the first Vodafone Test against Sri Lanka which is starting at Blundstone Arena in Hobart from Friday.

The Australian squad for the Hobart Test includes Michael Clarke (c), Shane Watson (vc), Ed Cowan, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, and David Warner.

National Selector John Inverarity said during his press conference to announce the squad, “Phillip Hughes has been selected to fill the vacancy created by Ricky Ponting’s retirement. Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Rob Quiney and Alex Doolan were the four batsmen to come under consideration to bat high in the order. Phillip is an improved player and his recent and overall career statistics present a compelling case”.

He further stated, “The NSP holds the view that he, having just turned 24, is a very significant part of the future. He has received this call-up, his third, as it was considered to be the right time and circumstances for him to re-establish himself”.

When asked about how Michael Clarke looks at Phil Hughes, John Inverarity said, “Michael Clarke will give careful consideration to his batting order during the next few days. He has a number of options open to him and Hughes at three is one of these”.

Giving NSP opinion on the bowling combination, John Inverarity said, “The four pace bowlers in the squad are Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc. John Hastings and Josh Hazlewood, not being able to be declared fit to perform at the time of selection, were not considered. The squad welcomes the return of Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle. Neither bowler was considered to be 100 per cent fit to perform and was not included in the final squad of 12 for the recent Perth Vodafone Test match against South Africa”.

When asked about the life after Ricky Ponting, John Inverarity was of the view, “The dressing-room will be different without the presence of Ricky Ponting. His absence creates both the opportunity and the necessity for others to grow and fill the gap. We look forward to watching Michael Clarke’s team in the three Test series against Sri Lanka after acquitting themselves well against the formidable South African line-up who deservedly retained the number one ICC Test ranking”.