No hurry to force my way back into Oz Test team: Hughes

Sydney, Oct 19: Phillip Hughes has said he is in no hurry to force his way back into the Australian Test team.

The 23-year-old pacer was tormented by Chris Martin and Martin Guptill’s seam bowling, resulting his Test axing last December.

Hughes became the centre of an unwanted statistical quirk, the ball travelling four times in four innings from Martin’s hand, off his bat and into the grasp of Guptill in the slips.

Nearly a year later, Hughes looks steadier at the crease, has added shots to his game and has set himself to make a lot of runs this summer.

Hughes freely admits he has made changes but is holding the adjustments as a closely guarded secret.

“There is a couple of things I’ve tinkered with over, I suppose, the last six to eight months but I won''t go into too much detail about them. People can have their views on different things but I''ll keep it quiet, I''ll stick with my coaches and talk with those guys about what I''m working on and I''m going to continue to work to become a better player.

“To compete at the top level you''ve got to keep improving your game because guys around state cricket and international cricket will work you out,” he said.

Having opened his Shield campaign with 95 and 83 against Queensland at the Gabba, Hughes is hoping the change in his game may pay dividends.

He said: “I feel like my game is in a lot settled and better place than it was 12 months ago. The best thing was going away to England to play county cricket and get away from everything here. It was like a big fresh start for me.

“I think as a cricketer I just want to look to keep improving, and I suppose that''s the most pleasing thing that I feel like I''m improving and expanding my game.”