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Phillip Hughes might possess Test and first-class averages nudging 70, but he still admits to nerves on the eve of Australia’s Ashes squad announcement. Hughes will be confirmed as Simon Katich’s opening partner when Andrew Hilditch names the 16-man touring party on Wednesday, but is loath to pre-empt the selectors’ decision.

“You still love to see the team and know that you’re there,” Hughes told Cricinfo. “You don’t want to take things too lightly. Obviously I’d love to see the team and see myself in it.”

Hughes has been in superb touch for Middlesex of late, producing his fourth century of the English summer on Sunday in a limited overs match against Somerset. His innings of 119 from 112 deliveries propelled Middlesex to their highest ever one-day total, and followed a sequence of three centuries in as many first class fixtures, culminating in an astonishing record of 574 runs at 143.50

Hughes’ sublime efforts on the county scene have hardly surprised Australian audiences, who marveled as he reeled off consecutive innings of 75, 115 and 160 in his maiden Test series in South Africa. In his 24 first class appearances to date, he has compiled ten centuries, and will be heavily relied upon to lead the Australian batting order in England.

When Australia surrendered the Ashes urn in 2005, Hughes was completing his year 10 studies at Macksville High School on the north coast of New South Wales (NSW). Now, he is set to re-unite with Katich at the top of the order, and look to continue the form that helped guide Australia to a surprise 2-1 victory in South Africa.

“I’ve obviously spent a fair bit of time with Simon at NSW over the last 12-18 months,” Hughes said. “We’ve formed a good relationship on and off the field. That really helps, when you get along like that. We’ve batted in the middle together for a while now, and it’s always great when you go to that next level … to go out and open the batting with him. It definitely did help a little bit.”

Hughes has used his time with Middlesex to develop an understanding of local pitch conditions – his only previous trip to England was for a three-week carnival with the NSW under-17 team – and develop a mental dossier on some of the England players he will face, not least his Middlesex team-mate, Andrew Strauss.

He has also taken the opportunity to speak with Justin Langer, currently on duty with Somerset. Like Langer, Hughes is a prolific left-hand opener with an unfashionable technique, and the elder has taken his successor under his wing.

“I’ll be catching up with him again and we’ll be going for dinner,” Hughes said prior to Sunday’s one-day match. “He’s a great guy and he’s been great for me. We met up earlier on this trip to England, and spoke a bit during the South African series. He asks me about England, how I’m enjoying it, and just about general life. The big thing he tells me is to be myself. He says that this is the technique that got you to this level, so keep being yourself and keep enjoying it. It’s great to talk to Justin.”
Source:Cricket News

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