Hughes eyes entire season with Worcs

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Phil Hughes has lost his Australia place for the first Test with India and consequently wants to begin the domestic season with Worcestershire

Worcestershire have opened talks with Australia opening batsman Phil Hughes about him joining the county for the whole 2012 campaign.

The 23-year-old left-hander is already contracted to link up in early June and stay for the remainder of the season. But he is keen to now move to New Road from April and play as much first-class cricket as possible in an effort to get his international career back on track.

Hughes averages nearly 35 in 17 Tests, but has been omitted from the Australia squad for the Boxing Day Test with India at Melbourne.

Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale said: "We have spoken to Phil's agent and he has suggested Phil is keen to come to us for the entire season.

"We are keen to have him for the whole season which had been our original hope when first contacting him.

"There will be further discussions over the festive period. There is no doubt he is a highly-talented cricketer. You don't open for Australia if you are not talented.

"He has had a tough time in the last couple of Tests and he is keen to get back into the reckoning and hopefully that will benefit us as a club."

Worcestershire are also hoping to re-sign Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal as their second overseas player for the Friends Life t20 after a successful spell with the county this season.

Leatherdale added: "We are keen for him to come back for the Twenty20 and he has said he wants to come back but it may depend on international commitments."

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