Hughes relaxed about Test prospects

Phillip Hughes doesn't have to look too far for inspiration to regain his place in Australia's Test team. When he takes the field next week for New South Wales' first game of the Sheffield Shield season he will be alongside Simon Katich, who fought his way back into the Test side through sheer weight of domestic runs.

Katich was axed soon after the 2005 Ashes defeat and focused on piling up scores for New South Wales. Having lost his place following the second Test of this year's Ashes series, Hughes knows that prolific scoring for the Blues would give him his best chance of a Test comeback in the short term.

"It was when I first started playing for New South Wales that Katto came back [to the state side]," Hughes told the Australian. "The season that he had after that all happened was phenomenal.

"He just got runs, on top of runs, on top of runs - in all forms of the game and he got back in there. The focus is to get runs and to try and win games for New South Wales and if you are putting your name up there you never know what's at the back end of that."

Hughes was surprised when told that the chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch had advised Shane Watson, who replaced Hughes during the Ashes, to retain his versatility rather than committing himself entirely to the opening role. Hilditch also said the selectors would look to reintroduce Hughes "once he's back to form", so the incentive is there for Hughes to start the summer well.

"I'd love to get back, but for now the main focus is to enjoy my cricket for New South Wales in all three forms of the game," Hughes said. "That's what I'll be doing. I will get back into training and go from there. What's happened has happened and I am taking it day by day and not looking too far ahead because if you do, things can happen."

Hughes doesn't have long to prove he is back to form - New South Wales play two Sheffield Shield games before the first Test against West Indies - but he has started the season well with 202 runs at 40.40 in the Champions League Twenty20. It placed him third on the tournament tally and he was instrumental in the Blues' triumphant campaign, but he said the squad needed to move on from the multi-million-dollar payday.

"We have to put that behind us," Hughes said. "There's a one-day game on Sunday and we get back into training in a day, so we have a day off and get back into it with the New South Wales Blues. It's a big season ahead and I can't wait to get out there."