Michael Hussey’s Intriguing Return of Form
If anyone in the Australian squad has the most at stake in the ongoing Ashes, it is none other than Mr. Cricket, Michael Hussey. The player has been facing criticism for the past several months because of his lack of form.
There were some very strong suggestions to drop Hussey for the Ashes, because the Australian selectors had completely lost faith in him. Once known as the most reliable player in the Australian batting line-up, Hussey was in a
lot of pressure for losing his good nick with the bat.
Nonetheless, Hussey did not let this pressure get to him and kept on saying before the Ashes that he was not feeling under any pressure. He was more concerned about playing his natural game, rather than worrying about his place
in the team. However, no one actually believed this and there were rumours that Hussey would surely crumble under pressure.
For many international players going down under pressure leads to their ultimate doom, but not in case of Mr. Cricket. It seems like this player gets his adrenalin from all the criticism that surrounds him. Time and again, this
lower middle order batsman has given a performance of a lifetime, that too under pressure, and this first Test in Brisbane is not any different.
On the first day, Australia bowled England out for 260 runs with fourteen overs remaining in the day’s play. It was obvious that the Aussies were going to come and post a huge total on the board, but this was undone on the second
day by an astounding bowling performance from James Anderson (2 wickets), Steven Finn (2 wickets) and Graeme Swann (1wicket).
Unexpectedly, the Aussies were in trouble when they came out to bat after having a great time in the field. Ricky Ponting, Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Marcus North, all failed in delivering a commendable performance with the bat. It was
then all up to Michael Hussey to get his team into a comfortable position.
Hussey, with so many things running through his mind, came out to bat with the pressure of the world on his shoulders. He was here to play to keep his place in the team, to keep his reputation intact and to make sure that his side
could get out of a difficult situation.
The English players just needed the wicket of Hussey and then they would have easily wrapped up the Australians below 200 runs. However, Hussey found his form at just the right time, while he was supported by Brad Haddin from the
other end.
Soon the spectators got just what they had paid for, when Hussey started going after the English bowlers. The hurricane was back and hitting the ball around the park. As time passed, it was obvious that Hussey was making the English
players nervous. Hussey managed to score an unbeaten 81 runs when bad light ended second day’s play with Australia on 220/5.
One can only imagine what would have happened if Hussey had failed to perform in the second innings against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Victoria-c859 in the Sheffield Shield, where he scored a hundred after getting out on a duck in the first innings. Had he underperformed,
probably the selectors would have dropped him from the squad. Nonetheless, luckily for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 that did not happen and now he is back and out to pulverise the English bowling guns.
With a lot of personal effort and dedication, Hussey has also had luck on his side as well. He edged a few deliveries but the ball fell short every time. “It just goes to show how much the game is a fine line," he said. "Nicking
that first one, I was praying it would fall short and thankfully it did. A foot more and I was gone for a first-ball duck."
Hussey will be looking to see through the new ball when the third day begins, because he knows that the new ball might cause drama during the first session. A hundred, in the first innings, on the third day, under pressure is perhaps
the best possible way for Hussey to make his comeback felt. Now, what remains to be seen is whether the English bowlers will allow Hussey to score his much needed century or not.
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