Discarded Aussie Test opener Phillip Hughes will remain in exile until he can present a compelling case for a recall.

Hughes' five-Test career remained on hold today when the national selectors predictably stuck with incumbents Shane Watson and Simon Katich at the top of the order for the first Test against the West Indies in Brisbane.

National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said Hughes, dropped after two Tests of this year's Ashes series, figures prominently in Australia's future plans but needs to score heavily for NSW before being considered.

"I've made no secret of the fact I think he's going to be a very exciting player in Australian cricket," Hilditch said.

"We were looking for a bit more form in Shield cricket before he came back into the Test side."

"We've been watching that very carefully. He's a great young kid and obviously has proved he can play at international level, so we're just going to continue to monitor his form and we still see him as very much part of our future."

Watson has a modest overall Test average of 27.6, but scored three half-centuries as a makeshift opener after replacing Hughes for the last three games of the Ashes series.

With that in mind - and with Hughes failing to cash in with big scores at Shield level - the selectors understandably stuck with Watson.

Hilditch is confident the Watson can build on his performances in England, dismissing concerns Watson has been unable to kick on and post a century.

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"We all want batsmen to go on (to score hundreds)," he said.

"I'm sure it's an issue he's getting on top of. He's still making his way in Test cricket."

"He'll be looking to improve that. Every time a batsman gets a start and doesn't go on, it hurts the side."

Hilditch also defended the retention of Mike Hussey after the Western Australian struggled for runs in the Ashes series.

A ton in the last Test against England and sound one-day form in India last month spared the veteran from the axe.

"We don't change the side unless we're confident we can improve it," Hilditch said.

"Michael Hussey scored a hundred in his last Test. He averages 50-plus and he's in good nick as far as we can tell."

"He deserves to be in the side and I think he'll play very well."

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