Hughes set for Worcestershire talks

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Worcestershire are hoping to re-sign Australia opening batsman Phil Hughes for next year.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes is in Australia, partly to hold preliminary talks with the 23-year-old who has played 17 Tests with a batting average of 34.58.

Hughes, now with South Australia after leaving New South Wales, starred in a disappointing season for the county that ended in LV= County Championship relegation.

The left-hander topped their batting averages in all three competitions with 100.5 in the Friends Life t20, 83 in the Clydesdale Bank 40 and 35 in the championship.

Phil Hughes topped Worcestershire's 2012 batting averages in all competitions, including with a stunning 100.5 in the Friends Life t20

Rhodes’ 10-day trip is also look at other potential recruits and keep tabs on current Worcestershire players spending the winter Down Under, including wicketkeeper Ben Cox.

Rhodes, who initially signed Hughes for the second half of the 2012 campaign but persuaded him to come for the whole season, told Worcester News: “He is part of the reason for going.

“Fingers crossed, we can have a good chat about the future but at the moment we haven’t got anything concrete on Phil. It will be good to have a chat with him about that.”

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