Hughes benefits from Lord's visit

Hughes is looking forward to this summer's Ashes

Phil Hughes is looking forward to his return to England with Australia next month after warming up with Middlesex for this summer's Ashes battle.

In a six week stint at Lord's, the 20-year-old New South Wales batsman hit 882 runs in 13 innings.

Questions were raised about the wisdom of allowing Hughes valuable experience of English playing conditions.

He told BBC London 94.9: "To get a chance with Middlesex, going into the Ashes, has given me good confidence."

He continued: "Something I always wanted to do is to play county cricket. And to get a chance to play at Lord's is something I always wanted to do.

"To walk out there on day one of the first four-day game there was a very special feeling and one I'll never forget."

The left hander went on to score a century in that opening match against Glamorgan, followed up with an unbeaten half century in the second innings. And he admitted: "It's been a great experience.

"All the guys around have been great for me. It's a great club and I've thoroughly enjoyed my six weeks here."

Earlier this year, Hughes rewrote the cricket records by becoming the youngest player in Test history to score a century in both innings of a match.

In only his second Test appearance for Australia in March, he hit 115 and 160 against South Africa at Durban to help his country win the three-match series.

And he admits that it is hard to take in what he has achieved in such a short space of time.

"It's happened very fast," he said. "The last six to 10 weeks are times I'll never forget.

"Obviously debuting for Australia and receiving my baggy green cap off Ricky Ponting was a special day and to have my family there was a very special moment.

"In the second Test, to get those back to back centuries is something I've never done in any form of the game.

"To get it in that second Test match was a very special time and, after that, to wrap the series up as well 2-0 against the South African team was really exciting."

The hype has now followed him to England thanks to his continued run glut. And Hughes admits: "It's hard not to be aware of it with all the guys ringing up from back home.

"You see the papers and the media hyping all this type of thing up, but that's a part of it.

"I just do what I love doing and the other part comes with it."