Hughes confirmed the news this morning on his. He wrote: "let down for not being on track with the boys today, will be guys, it's a great test match 4 us. Thanks 4 all the support!"
It was believed that his innings of 68 against Northamptonshire Saturday would strengthen his position. But instead he left him in favor of all-round Shane Watson, who now open the innings.
The advantage of Watson, who had 84 and 50 in the same tour match this weekend is that he can also offer a couple of overs of right-arm seam. By doing so, he will take the pressure of Mitchell Johnson, who has been leaning in this series.
Australia will be able to offer Johnson a free role, insist him to run hard and not pine for much of the number of runs they give up.
It has to be concerned that the free-pressed Watson is not a pukka opening batsman. He has performed the task with some success in one-day international and Twenty20 games. But when the Queensland experiment with him as a superior, he opens up a couple in their first turn and was quickly back to the lower middle order.
Sunny and blustery conditions in Birmingham this morning, have better prospects of a relatively fast start in the third Test. Yesterday's wet and dreary weather, which included a solid 12 hours the rain had left the position of water throughout the Edgbaston outfield soaked evening.
But Warwickshire ground staff have put in a heroic effort, the work in the next three Super Mushrooms to help its Cleanup activities act, and work through the night to remove all the puddle.
The Ashes: Australia drop opener Phil Hughes for third Test against England
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