Hughes will never forget the moment Ponting handed him his baggy green cap

Australia batsman Phil Hughes has announced that it was be extremely tough to replace the legendary Ricky Ponting on the national team roster since the ex-skipper was his idol.

Hughes has scored 518 runs at an average of 51.80 in five Sheffield Shield matches this season and ironically received his baggy green cap from Ponting in Johannesburg in 2009.

Hughes noted that it would mean the world to him if the selectors were to include him in the national team for the entire home series against Sri Lanka.

“Playing against Sri Lanka would be great but the bottom line is it is down to the selectors,” News.com.au quoted Hughes as saying. “It is out of my hands.

“The most pleasing thing is I have been scoring runs in both forms. It is out of my hands. I know my next game is on Sunday week for the Adelaide Strikers in Perth and that is what I am preparing for.”

The Australian batsman also stated that it would have felt amazing to get a recall while Ponting was still playing.

“I was extremely surprised by the announcement,” Hughes said. “The whole nation wants him to finish with a bang and get a big score this Test.

“Ricky presented me my baggy green in Johannesburg and that was a moment I will never forget.”

Hughes, who has scored three Test centuries, reminisced about how Ponting told him to stay strong when he was constantly picked and dropped from the Australian lineup.

“Before my first series Justin Langer called me and said do him a favour and just look at the way Ricky conducts himself and his work ethic and intensity around the group,” Hughes added. “I always had my ear open around him. He is an absolute legend of a person and player. They are little things I have in the back of my mind and will never forget. When he speaks, people listen.”