It's certainly not been a dull start to life as an international cricketer for Hughes.

The left-hander was thrust to the front of the queue to replace Matthew Hayden at the tender age of 20 after a superb start to his first-class career.

Starting out against South Africa and after being hyped up in the media, Hughes suffered the worst possible start to his Test career with a duck in Johannesburg.

After such an ignominious beginning the only way was up for the New South Welshman - though no one expected him to bounce back so quickly.

A knock of 75 in the second innings gave the South Africans a taste of what was to come in the second Test, as he created history in Durban by becoming the youngest man to hit back-to-back centuries.

He came into the 2009 Ashes highlighted as one of Australia's key weapons, and a run-laden early-summer stint in Middlesex caused plenty of grumbling from those unhappy to see an English county 'helping' the Aussies in this way.

But his debut Ashes series was to be a crushing disappointment. Unable to cope with Andrew Flintoff's oft-effective round-the-wicket ploy to left-handers, Hughes was bounced out of the side after just two Tests that yielded only 57 runs at 19.

His replacement was Shane Watson, who has gone on to establish himself firmly as first-choice at the top of the order alongside Simon Katich.

The key to his early success was his unorthodoxy, making it hard for bowlers to know where to target and tough for opposing captains to set a field as he cut and pulled the South Africans to distraction.

The exposure of his vulnerability to the short ball from round the wicket meant he had to go away and work again at his game, and he has worked extensively and tirelessly with batting coach Justin Langer.

With time clearly on his side - he will not turn 22 until November 30 - and a still-imposing Test record of 615 runs at 51 from seven Tests, Hughes will surely come again at the highest level.

Whether that will be during this Ashes campaign remains to be seen.

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