Phil Hughes hoping to reclaim No.3 for Australia just weeks after being dropped Phil Hughes is hoping for yet another Test recall in his short career. Picture: Matthew Horwood. WHEN Phil Hughes was dropped from the Australian Test team after a two poor performances against New Zealand in 2011, it took him a year to regain his place. It says something about the disastrous state of Australia's batting that, this time, it might take Hughes just a month to go back through the team's revolving door. Hughes is one of a handful of players hoping for a good performance against the England Lions in the two day tour match in Northampton to put themselves in contention for the team for the fifth Test at The Oval starting next Wednesday. After scoring 81 and featuring in a record 163-run last wicket partnership with Ashton Agar at Trent Bridge, Hughes subsequently made 1,1 and 2 and was dropped for the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Yet, with Usman Khawaja failing to seize his chance at No.3, and Shane Watson suffering a minor groin injury, the situations vacant sign is again nailed to the dressing room door. "A couple of weeks back when I missed out on selection, it's obviously a disappointing thing," says Hughes. But I totally and respect where the selectors were coming from. It's happened a couple of times. Hopefully I can get back in the side sooner rather than later, but the feedback I've had from Rod (Marsh) and obviously Boof's (coach Darren Lehmann) been very good. Hughes believes that, unlike when he was dropped during the 2011 New Zealand series, he is still in good form. "It's never easy to be dropped but I feel that one (New Zealand) was tougher than this one," he says. And I'm being really honest about that. I feel this one, it was only three bats (after) I probably scored one of my better Test innings, so it's something I'm not overly concerned about. I feel my game is in a really good place ... I feel like I'm hitting the ball well, but I did miss out and had a real poor game at Lord's and the selectors, I suppose, they're trying to find the best combination and I wasn't in that for the last two games. Hughes has batted in every position from opening to No.6 on this tour, unsettling for a player who has made his three Test centuries at the top of the order. Number three remains Australia's most troublesome spot. Nine players have batted at three since Shaun Marsh scored the last century at that position against Sri Lanka in 2011. Ed Cowan, for one Test, and Khawaja have filled the role in this series. "A lot of people have had a go at it over the last couple of years, I'd love another go," says Hughes. Anyone would. I suppose in the Australian summer if I came in and slotted into number three in the Test match form, and the one-day form, I'd enjoy that. But, as I said, it doesn't matter. Usman is there now and I'm sure he'll do a good job there. And that's just how it is. It's just the combinations (the selectors) want. Hughes was running drinks on the boundary when Australia collapsed dramatically after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test at Chester-le-street. He realises the team must learn to stop losing "clumps" of wickets if it is to take advantage of some otherwise good performances. "You have to get through the 20 or 30 balls and stop their momentum," he says. When the crowd gets behind them, they gets their tails up. There was a couple of positives for us in the last game in Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers and Davy (Warner) up the top, but it was disappointing to lose that game from the position we were in. Hopefully one day, sooner rather than later, I'll get another crack.