Hobart, Dec 8 (IANS): Phillip Hughes has been given another chance to prove himself and secure his Test future as the Australian selectors named an unchanged side for the second Test against New Zealand starting Friday.
Australia, who cruised to a nine-wicket win over the Kiwis in the first Test in Gabba, called up in-form all-rounder Daniel Christian to the squad, but the South Australian will be warming the bench now.
Captain Michael Clarke was all praise for the South Australian and said he was very tempted to hand him a Test debut but in the decided against it as they din't want to change a winning combination.
"We spoke about (playing Christian). That's why he is here," Clarke was quoted saying to Fox Sports.
"We know what he can do with the ball. It was a long debate.
"But we felt the team played well in Brisbane and it is important to keep a winning team."
Hughes and David Warner will have another chance to impress the selectors with the regular openers Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh out with injury.
Hughes has especially come under heavy criticism with a string of poor performances and time seems top be running out for the left-hander.
Former Australian opener Mark Waugh feels that this could be his last chance.
"He's making it hard for himself, Phillip Hughes," Waugh told Fox Sports.
"He just keeps getting out the same way. If you are an opening batsman playing decent quality bowling, you just can't afford to be fishing outside the off stump all the time. It's the basic technique of a top order batsman in Test cricket.
"You have got to be able to let the ball go and you have got to be strong outside that off stump. But he looks like he could get out at any stage and he just keeps flirting with the ball outside the off stump. His technique has got to tighten up otherwise he might find himself out of the team."
The team: David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (captain), Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Dan Christian (12th man).