South Australia batsman Phil Hughes is reluctant to go into details about his refined technique - but it's already winning rave reviews from the opposition.
The 17-time Test player has more than impressed in his first Sheffield Shield outing for the Redbacks against Queensland at the Gabba, firming up on his back foot and choosing the right moments to dole out punishment on the Bulls' attack.
While he was unable to turn his overnight first-innings 95 into a three-figure haul on the third morning of the match, Hughes remains South Australia's only hope of victory.
The former New South Welshman was unbeaten on 58 at stumps on day three, with SA on 2-111 in their second innings and needing everything to fall their way if they are to hold on for a draw let alone run down the Bulls' target of 463.
A guarded Hughes admitted he has changed the way he goes about his batting in an effort to break back into baggy green calculations.
"There's a couple of things, I'm not going to lie. (But) I'm not going to go into those things," Hughes said.
"I've talked to my batting coaches about that kind of stuff and I don't want to mention the things that I've been changing.
"It is nice when you put the hours in behind the scenes and to score runs in the middle, where it counts, is always a pleasing thing."
However, Queensland's two centurions were happy to divulge on the finer details of Hughes' new-look approach.
Chris Hartley hit an innings-saving 103 not out on Wednesday, but from behind the wickets he can tell the 23-year-old is ironing out the creases in his game.
"Hughesy's looking really good," he said.
"He's looking a lot more still at the crease. His technique's a little bit unorthodox but generally, he does the basics really well.
"He's also playing the pull shot a little bit more, which I reckon's a great idea.
"He's only a short fella and he's going to get a lot of balls up around the chest and neck area, and you've got to be able to deal with it.
"He's playing it a lot more, which is a good way to combat it."
Ben Cutting, who was smashed for three consecutive fours by Hughes on day two, said: "He has certainly tightened up.
"I think he gave me a few tips the way he faced my first three overs. I thought he batted very well - that's the best I've seen him bat for a number of years now."
Hughes was predictably shattered not to have marked his improvement with a century - but he has designs on nabbing another one on the final day.
"It would have been nice to go on this morning - that's how it happens," he sighed.
"To be not out again overnight is good, and we've got to turn up tomorrow two-down with a lot of batting to be had tomorrow.
"There's a lot of cricket to be played and a lot of overs left in the whole day. A lot of funny things can happen in cricket.
"We'll look to win. We'll be going for that total."
First Posted 04 October, 2012 9:32AM AEDT
