Hussey and Haddin help Australia take control of Gabba test
Australia has wrestled the initiative after a stunning partnership, for the sixth wicket, deflated the English team on day three of the first Ashes test at the Gabba, in Brisbane.
Resuming at the overnight score of 220/5 the hosts were relying on the duo of Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin to pull them out of the mire and then take them to a position of dominance with a triple hundred stand.
Mike Hussey was the star of the show slamming a brilliant 195 to silence his critics who had claimed that he was over the hill and one of the reasons for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s slump in test cricket recently.
The star left hander was caught by Alastiar Cook off England’s most successful bowler of the innings, Steven Finn, five short of an epic double hundred and Mr. Cricket was disappointed on missing the landmark.
He added that it would be a tough ask for the bowlers to run through the English batting line-up on day four of the match as the wicket had dried out and become a belter for the batsmen.
"I've still got plenty of adrenaline running through my body," Hussey said. "I might struggle to get off to sleep." "I was very disappointed," Hussey said. "I was very, very determined to get to 200, but it wasn't to be. As I was walking off, I thought to
myself - as much as I was very disappointed - 'I've got to soak this in and really enjoy it'."
“I think it's going to be tough tomorrow, definitely," Hussey said. "There are some cracks opening up in some good areas for us, so we hope that can put some doubts in the batsmen's minds.
Haddin also was in a splendid touch reaching his ton through a magnificent straight driven six off Graeme Swann, he was eventually dismissed by the off-spinner with Paul Collingwood taking the catch.
Haddin made 136 runs off 287 balls, his innings included 16 fours and 1 six, the Aussies were eventually dismissed for a first innings total of 481 runs.
The hero in the field for England was the lanky Finn who was playing his first Ashes test match.
Finn voted ICC’s Emerging player of the year earlier in the year was chuffed about his performance.
He claimed that it was a total team effort that brought success to him and his team, on a wicket where run making had become an easy task on day three.
"I picked up the wickets but I was the least consistent bowler and I'm aware of that," he said. "Jimmy and Broady and Swanny at times bowled fantastically well, and when we work together as a unit that's when we get our wickets. These wickets are for the
unit, but personally, there are still a lot of areas I need to improve on and I'm well aware of that. I want to go for less runs, take more wickets and I've got a lot of work to do."
Finn is optimistic that his batsmen would not let the team down and pull up a rearguard action that can make Australia stumble on day four of the match.
The Aussies have a lead of 227 runs and the wicket has some cracks on it which means that the tourists would have their task cut out if they lose some early wickets tomorrow.
By close they had scored 19 runs for no loss, yet in the little 15 overs period before close they had to face some real anxious moments.
Ben Hilfenhaus was especially the one making the ball talk with his in and out swingers in the dying moments of an eventful day three in front of a packed Gabba.
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