Kat backs his Blues

Australian opener Simon Katich has urged New South Wales young-gun Phil Hughes to stick with the method that saw him break into the Test line-up earlier this year.

Hughes, 20, scored an impressive 472 runs at an average of over 50 in five Tests before he was controversially dumped midway through the recent Ashes series.

His difficulties against the short ball prompted some critics to suggest the unorthodox lefty's technique requires a complete overhaul, but Katich strongly disagrees.

"There's going to be a lot of talk about what happened in England but the thing is he's 20," Katich said.

"He's learning about the game and he was learning it at the highest level and he still is now playing for us (NSW), so that in itself is a big challenge for a 20 year old and I don't think he needs to make huge changes."

"It's probably more making sure that positive mindset remains the same no matter what happens. I think he will have that anyway. He's only 20 and his time will come."

Hughes was back to his best against Tasmania on day four of the Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania, making a well-compiled 79 before he was caught at point shortly after a lengthy weather delay interrupted his innings.

It was the youngster's maiden first-class half-century of the season after posting scores of 32 and 12 in his first two knocks of the summer.

"He batted beautifully," Katich, Hughes' state skipper, said.

"His start to the season has been very good, he's practically made starts every time, he just hasn't gone on to get a 100, but the way he's hitting the ball is outstanding."

Meanwhile, Katich also backed veteran paceman Stuart Clark to force his way back into Test contention after he too was overlooked for the first Test against the West Indies beginning on Thursday.

"I'd like to think not, because he's been outstanding for us," Katich said when asked if Clark has played his last Test match.

"He was brilliant in the Champions League Twenty20 and he's been one of our best bowlers out here in this recent four-day game, and in the first game he bowled well against WA."

"So I think next week in Perth, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a big haul because he loves bowling well there for us - I think he got eight-for there a few years ago so I'd be very surprised if he doesn't play another Test for Australia because he's still a very good bowler."

Katich also warned against writing off the West Indies, insisting the men from the Caribbean cannot be taken lightly in the upcoming three Test series.

"There's been a lot made of the West Indies but I think you look at their line-up and they've got some very good players in there, so you'd be a fool to suggest that they're not going to perform well," he said.

"I mean guys like (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul, (Ramnaresh) Sarwan, (Chris) Gayle - I don't know whether Gayle's back in time - but they've got (Dwayne) Bravo, they've got a lot of very good Test cricketers, so it's just a matter of them getting out there and playing some good cricket."

"I'm certainly not going to be taking them lightly that's for sure."