Hughes out to exorcise his ghosts Phillip Hughes is chasing redemption. Phil Hughes had a time he would rather forget on his first Ashes tour four years ago, dropped after two Tests having turned up there just out of his teens, off the banana farm and the subject of lofty comparisons with Don Bradman. Now 24, he has arrived in England again, this time as a No.3 batsman at international level rather than an opener, although one who still has much to prove. Hughes is upbeat, however, about the campaign ahead, starting with Saturday's first Champions Trophy match against England at Edgbaston. He struggled desperately until late in the tour of India in March, but with a successful county season under his belt with Worcestershire last year the left-hander is confident he can counter what England's practitioners of swing, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, can toss at him. "I do remember how down I felt at the Oval after the fifth Test [in 2009], it was not a great experience," Hughes said before Australia's trip to Birmingham to start its bid for a third consecutive Champions Trophy title. But I'm not thinking about what happened four years ago. I feel like I've well and truly moved on from that. Personally I feel I've grown a lot and I'm a lot better cricketer than I was back then. I've been over here playing in county cricket since then and got a good grasp of playing in the conditions. I'm feeling good about my game. The older you get, and the more international cricket you play around the world, you get to know bowlers a lot better and you get a lot wiser about things. You study your opposition very hard. While the Champions Trophy might appear a sideshow to the main event of Australia's tour for most, Hughes is eyeing the competition as a chance not just to secure some silverware but as a vehicle to guarantee him an Ashes start. With the recalled Chris Rogers all but assured of one opener's spot due to a prolific county season at Middlesex, and Ed Cowan in good touch with Nottinghamshire, competition for spots in the Australian top six is on. "It's an important competition for me personally because I really want to stamp myself in this team in both forms of the game," Hughes said. India was tough for everyone, we learnt a lot of lessons on that tour. The Australians are coming off a disastrous practice match against India in which they were rolled for 65 in Cardiff and Hughes said they must be far better against Anderson, Broad and England on Saturday. Australia's games in Group A Saturday v England, Edgbaston Wednesday v New Zealand, Edgbaston Monday, June 17 v Sri Lanka, The Oval