da bwin： Phillip Hughes, the 21-year-old opener, is back for his sixth Test afterSimon Katich failed a fitness test on his injured right elbow
Peter English at the SCG02-Jan-2010
Phillip Hughes is back in Australia’s Test team•Getty Images
Phillip Hughes, the 21-year-old opener, is back for his sixth Test afterSimon Katich failed a fitness test on his injured right elbow. Katich wasstruck during the opening game against Pakistan by Mohammad Aamer and wasgiven until the final morning to prove he was right, but the New SouthWales captain was unable to recover in time.”Simon Katich batted for 20 minutes in the indoor nets today,” thephysiotherapist Alex Kountouris said. “Simon was still very sore thismorning after the net. It was decided he should be replaced.”Katich, 34, was limited in his range of shots and will miss his first gamesince returning from a three-year break in 2008. He was the team’s leadingrun-scorer in 2009 with 1,111 and had developed a strong combination withShane Watson, who replaced Hughes during the Ashes tour.Despite Katich’s strong form, it’s a difficult time to miss a game withWaston in great form in his past seven Tests and Hughes desperate to makea lasting impressing following his stumbles in England. Hughes struggledwith the short ball during the Ashes and was roughed up by Andrew Flintoffin his two Tests, so will be keen to show he has recovered his touch.In his second Test in South Africa he scored centuries in both innings toconfirm his promise and the selectors will be pleased to see him in theside to inject some youth ahead of next year’s Ashes. It will be Hughes’first Test in Australia and he will play on his home ground, although thedecision was so late it will be a rush for his family and friends to gethere from the northern New South Wales town of Macksville.