Michael Atherton believes Australian opener Phillip Hughes has turned the corner

Former England cricket captain and now cricket correspondent for The Times Michael Atherton believes that stand-by Australian opener Phillip Hughes has turned the corner with his knock of 30-odd runs in the first innings against England in the fifth and final Ashes Test being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Atherton suggested in an article for The London Times that Hughes is within an ace of becoming a decent Test opening batsman and should be persisted with beyond the fifth Ashes Test despite returning the underwhelming scores of 23 and 31 in Melbourne and Sydney.

"He had played well, but not well enough; fought hard but not quite hard enough. It is a cruel game at times, but in the past couple of innings he has not looked too far away. Australia should stick with him," said Atherton.