Cricket Tournaments

For a man who had it all……Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey often compared with Michael Bevan and rightly so. Hussey has fit into the role of Bevan so beautifully. Hussey one of the best finishers around today is a very versatile player who can be depended upon at any situation.

Hussey made his international debut against India at Perth in 2004. He took a year before he made a position in the team. But, when he did so –he did so in style and hasn’t been dropped ever since—a hallmark of a good player.

Michael Hussey had to wait for 11 years and score about 15000 runs in the domestic arena before making his debut at the international stage. That too was because Justin Langer had broken his rib. Hussey was to open. Hussey was 30 when he finally made his debut for Australia. He made a paltry score of 1 in his first innings but after that there was no looking back for Hussey as he struck gold in the 2nd test with a magnificent century. He hit another three centuries that summer. That marked Michael Hussey into international cricket.

Hussey later became a bit of a floater in the Aussie line up with no fixed batting position all to do with his versatility. I use the word ‘versatile’ very often but in the cricketing circle Michael Hussey and versatility is now one and the same thing.

You put in Michael Hussey to open—he performs. If Hussey is put into a situation with Australia at 20 for 5—he performs. If Hussey is asked to slog ’em out of the park coming in at the 45th over of the innings it’s not a problem for him. If that isn’t a definition to versatility then what is?

To add to this Hussey is a fantastic fielder (Mind you: Most Australians are) at gully and has taken some splendid catches in his not so long career. The only thing holding back the relentless Hussey- is his age. Having made his debut only at the age of 30; Hussey may find it difficult to stretch his career beyond the ashes series at home against England or at best he might drag it to the 2011 ICC World Cup which is to be held in the sub-continent. Hussey is 34 now and is looking as fit as ever.

Michael Hussey’s averaged sky rocketed to 80 at the start of his career and to his credit he was able to keep it there for about a year and a half. However, it was in mid 2008 when recession was having its major impacts and it seemed to have affected Hussey too who barely scored runs. In the next 15-18 months Hussey’s averaged dropped from a phenomenal 80 to 55 intensifying the achievement of ‘THE DON’ and all that on uncovered pitches.

Hussey is one of Australia’s best finishers and has been compared to Michael Bevan for a long time now. But, there is more to Hussey then just a finisher. He is a maneuverer, a grinder and a slogger. He’s a full pack. Unlike Bevan Hussey has performed at the test level too this just goes to show his fine technique and long hours of concentration to go with it.

After all what makes Hussey so versatile and one of Australia’s best finishers?

His nerve—Hussey always manages to keep his nerve under tensed situations. It is those situations when matches are won or lost; those situations which could change the course of the series. Hussey always comes up on top and it’s the opposition who often wilts. He’s a man of steel and is invaluable to Australia come the world cup.

Quick legs—one of the most underestimated reason perhaps but quick running between the wickets always changes the momentum of the game and a sudden look at the scoreboard takes the opposition captain by surprise. In spite of being 34 Hussey is one of the fittest going around.

Sublime timing: Michael Hussey manages to find the meat of the bat whenever he makes an effort to. When Hussey is seen playing at his best the cover drive is the 1st sign of what is to come. He’s one of the few players who manages to get the ball away with pure ease and grace.

Technique—Above all let’s not forget the man has a wonderful technique not just to last 50 Overs but to last over 5 days and he has done so and proved himself at the international level.

Michael Hussey’s career stats besides his average may not be very revealing having scored just two centuries in the ODI format. But, what stats can’t show is how invaluable Hussey has been to the team. Hussey has batted from almost all positions be it from opening right down to number 7-8. And as mentioned above give him the situation, give him the stage and give him the position—MEK Hussey will have his work cut out—but will come out on top.

Hussey currently tops the charts for the number one ranked batsman in the world and rightly so. He has recently overtaken Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who had the spot for a year. Michael Hussey has been in the top 10 ODI batsmen ever since 2005 and although his form did see a slump in 2008-2009, his ODI game never seemed to get affected—it was the test game that suffered.

Nevertheless, the rut is over Michael Hussey is back and he is now not just back in the reckoning for the ashes but has booked the number four position. Hussey recently retired from the T20 form of the game—quite surprising actually as Hussey would feature in most countries top 11 in the format. Perhaps, it is his age which is an issue.

Mike Hussey has been given the nick of “MR. CRICKET” and indeed what an apt name it is for a man with all weapons in his repertoire. Truly, Versatility performed.

Carrying on the momentum they gained from the Harbhajan-Praveen partnership during the first ODI, India put up a near flawless performance at Nagpur They won by 99 runs to the level the series 1-1, heading into Delhi. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the standout performer for the Indians, stroking a marvellous 124. Further, there were crucial contributions from the other members of the XI too, making it an excellent team effort. Gautam Gambhir continued his good form with a fluent 76 while Suresh Raina relieved some of the pressure on him, making a whirlwind 62.

In the bowling department as well India had their heroes. Praveen Kumar made up for his shabby showing at Vadodara by bowling a probing first spell, claiming two wickets. Ishant Sharma showed further signs of improvement by picking up a couple of scalps and bowling economically, whereas part-timer Ravindra Jadeja ended up being the surprise package, bagging three Australian wickets.

On the other hand, the only thing which went right for Ricky Ponting was winning the toss. But, in hindsight, he would dearly have wanted to lose it. Punter’s decision to bowl first on a batting beauty, keeping in mind the dew factor, backfired and that too in a big way. Australia did manage to strike early when Peter Siddle got Sachin Tendulkar to edge one behind the wickets. But what followed was a fascinating and expected counterattack by Virender Sehwag and Gambhir. The Aussies smelt blood when Sehwag fell for 40, going for one of his big hits and Yuvraj Singh’s promising knock was cut short by Ben Hilfenhaus’ excellent reflex catch. That however only turned out to be the beginning of a long struggle for the Australians.

Dhoni and Gambhir joined forces to decimate the already depleted Aussies. Runs flowed with ease on a pitch that figuratively read ‘bowlers’ graveyard’. Pace spearhead Brett Lee was sorely missed and in his absence even the others were less effective. Siddle was by far the best of the bowlers, pitching the ball more often in the block hole than the others. Conversely, Mitchell Johnson’s expensive figures looked slightly better only because of the couple of wickets he picked up in the last over. That too was thanks too some splendid glovework from Tim Paine. Nathan Hauritz kept things tight but went wicketless, while Shane Watson, whom Ponting reposed faith in despite him 20-run over in the last match, was smashed for plenty yet again.

Even so, nothing can be taken away from M S Dhoni, who paced his innings to perfection. Following the unfortunate run-out of Gambhir, he and Raina steadied the innings before going on an all-out attack in the slog overs. Dhoni brought up his hundred launching a six straight down the ground, off a struggling Johnson. At the other end, Raina kept swinging his bat at everything and, luckily for India, there were more hits than misses. Both were eventually dismissed in the final over, but by then India posted a colossal 354/7.

For Australia to get anywhere close, an outstanding start was needed. Praveen ensured it never came. His inswinging deliveries accounted for Paine and Ponting while Ishant sent back Waston with a rising delivery as the Aussies stumbled to 45/3 and the game was all but decided, barring a miracle. Michael Hussey and Cameron White put on a steadying partnership. However, it was far from enough. White fell to Harbhajan for 23 in an attempt to accelerate the scoring. Hussey went on to top score for his side with a patient 53, before he ended up becoming one of Jadeja’s three victims. The left-hander was beaten in flight by the left-arm spinner and clean bowled. Later, Shaun Marsh was stumped by a long distance and Adam Voges fell going for a slog to give Jadeja his best one-day return in his short international career.

It was a thoroughly comprehensive win for the home side and one that should set up the series nicely, with scores level and everything to play for.