Hughes, North waiting for their Ashes debut

SYDNEY - Australian Test opening batsman Phillip Hughes and Marcus North are eagerly counting their days to become part of the historic Ashes series.

Hughes said he cannot wait to make his Ashes debut next month.

Hughes had a highly successful stint earlier this year with English county side Middlesex, where he scored 574 runs in just five matches.

“I’d never been there before but to wrap up the conditions and sum it all up, you know, the preparation’s been great, and I feel comfortable going into this series.”

Hughes became Australia’s youngest player in 25 years when he was chosen for the tour of South Africa earlier this year.

Warriors skipper North spoke of his excitement at heading to England for the Ashes.

North, who will join up with the Aussie squad this week as they look to move on from their recent World Twenty20 debacle and concentrate on beating England in the five-Test series.

“It’s one of the greatest tours as an Australian cricketer to get on and just really looking forward to getting over there and trying to contribute,” North was quoted as saying in the Australian media.

“I am pretty excited - it’s been a strange three weeks being at home watching the old ads on TV about the Ashes,” North said.

“I was kind of getting quite excited watching it but I’ve actually got to pinch myself and realise I’ll actually be participating in it.”

They left Australia Sunday to join the rest of the Ashes squad in England.