But days before what would have been his 26th birthday on Sunday , there was a likely vacancy in Australia 's top order because of captain Michael Clarke 's injury problems .
Hughes was an obvious candidate for the start of a four - match series against India .
But days before what would have been his 26th birthday on Sunday , there was a likely vacancy in Australia 's top order because of captain Michael Clarke 's injury problems , and Hughes was an obvious candidate for the start of a four - match series against India .