Johannesburg, Feb. 28 : Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke has rallied behind young opening batsman Phil Hughes, who made a fourth-ball duck on debut against South Africa.
Hughes, aged just 20, tried to cut a short ball from Dale Steyn in the first over of the match and was caught behind.
"He was disappointed," said Clarke, who made 151 in his Test debut against India in Bangalore in 2004, aged 23.
"He wanted to do really well but he''s a pretty tough cookie and it was a pretty tough wicket to make his debut on.