Blond hair, shiny earring and a precocious New South Wales batting talent: the Michael Clarke comparisons were always inevitable for Phillip Hughes. He added to the similarity in 2007-08 when he became the youngest player since Clarke to make his first-class debut for the Blues, at 18 years and 355 days, which was 111 days older than Clarke in 1999-2000. He was installed at the top of the order as the replacement for his fellow left-hander Phil Jaques, who was on Test duty, and made an excellent start with 51 on debut against Tasmania. He followed with a level-headed 68 in his first one-day game, at the MCG against Victoria, and even spent nine overs as the acting wicketkeeper when Brad Haddin left the field injured. From a banana-farming family on the state's north coast, Hughes worked his way to his first-class debut with impressive efforts in the Emerging Players Tournaments and for the Australia Under-19s, including a tally of 324 runs at 108 against the Pakistan Under-19s in April 2007. He is a vital member of Australia's U-19 squad for the World Cup in 2008.
Cricinfo staff February 2008

• Blues boost batting bank (Apr 30, 2008)
  
• Katich earns more glory (Apr 5, 2008)
  
• Hughes and Katich put Blues on top (Mar 17, 2008)
  
• Blues draw but Katich earns state record (Mar 3, 2008)
  
• Katich in charge of tricky New South Wales chase (Mar 1, 2008)
  

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Mar 19, 2008 Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich and Brett Lee celebrate New South Wales' Pura Cup triumph © Getty Images

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Mar 17, 2008 Simon Katich congratulates Phillip Hughes on his century © Getty Images

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