Hussey almost certain of Test place

Michael Hussey believes his improved results since the end of the Ashes series should gain him a start in the first Test of the Australian summer. With a big push for Phillip Hughes and uncertainty over Shane Watson's role as an opener, Hussey's place has been under heavy scrutiny for the opening game against West Indies from November 26.

However, Hussey's excellent one-day series in India, where he scored 313 runs at 104.33, has given him confidence and he is one of seven players who have been rested from next week's Sheffield Shield matches. The move indicates the selectors want Hussey and the rest of the group to have a break before the first Test. Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson and Nathan Hauritz will not feature in the state games following the heavy schedule during their winter.

While the team was in India Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said deciding on Hussey's future would be one of the most difficult calls, but his stance has softened as the batsman's performances have improved. "I think scoring a hundred in my last Test [at The Oval] hopefully helps, and scoring runs on this tour hopefully really helps as well,'' Hussey told AAP. "But certainly my results haven't been as I would have liked in the last 12 months.

"There's always going to be speculation if you're not putting performances on the board. I feel like, in the last few months, I have been able to put performances on the board, so hopefully that stands up well for the selectors.''

Hussey expects his position to be analysed closely by Hilditch and his panel. "I just hope that they retain the faith in me," he said, "and I hope I can repay them if selected.''

Tom Moody, the Western Australia coach, was shocked by the decision to rest Hussey and Mitchell Johnson from their Sheffield Shield game against Victoria on Tuesday. "They haven't played a longer form of the game since the last Test match in England, so it's a significant difference in batting and bowling and standing in the field for potentially a day-and-a-half,'' Moody said. "You need that condition."

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"We hope to seal the series here"

Australian vice captain Michael Hussey said the visitors are determined to pocket the rubber in the sixth ODI in Guwahati.

Australia are leading 3-2 in the ongoing seven-match ODI series against India. Predicting that Sunday's affair will witness a close finish, Hussey said they were backing themselves up with the motivation of sealing the issue instead of leaving it for last game in Mumbai.

"I guess it will be a tight match here again but our motivation now is that we can have the series in our hands tomorrow (Sunday). We are still recovering from the the thrilling win (in Hyderabad) and hope to take the series here," Hussey told reporters on the eve of the match at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.

"We are not looking at any long-term goal but win here will give us the series and as a byproduct we can consolidate our position atop the ICC rankings," he said.
With the conditions in Guwahati seemingly mysterious as ODI cricket is returning to the city after two years' lull -- the scheduled India-England match last November was cancelled due to 26/11 Mumbai terror atacks -- Hussey said the Aussies would be happy to lose the toss.

"Maybe it will be a good toss to lose. I have never played here and so don't know much about the conditions. I guess the first 10 overs will be crucial. If we bat first, we have to be cautious and while bowling if we take few wickets early, I guess then we can cash in on the situation," he said.

Hussey also lavished praise on all-rounder Shane Watson, who cracked a superb 89-ball 93 to guide Australia to a mammoth 350 for four in Hyderabad.

"He (Watson) is two players for the price of a one. He is superbly talented, works really hard and a great asset to the side. He lends balance to the side and an important cog in the wheel for us," he said.

He, however, begged to differ when asked whether India lacked depth in their bowling department in the fifth one-dayer.

"I don't think we can blame their (India's) bowlers. It was an excellent batting strip and even our bowlers conceded about 350 runs while India batted."

Hussey himself has been the backbone of Australia's batting department in the series, top-scoring with 278 runs from five outings with three fifties, and he said he was happy with his form.

"I am not worried about my batting form. I think I am middling the ball well," he said.

Incidentally, Australia has been hit hard by injuries during the series with as many as five players -- Brett Lee (elbow), James Hopes (hamstring), Tim Paine (finger), Peter Siddle (muscle stiffness) and Moises Henriques (right hamstring) -- returning home midway through the tour.

To top it, captain Ricky Ponting was already out there without the services of his first choice players in Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Callum Ferguson and Nathan Bracken, who missed the tour due to injuries.

But Hussey feels it came as a blessing in disguise for the World Champions as it provides them the opportunity to test the unheralded players and prepare a strong back up before the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent.

"We suffered a lot of injuries, but it was a good opportunity for the players who were just on the outskirts. They have performed well and it gave us a chance to test our depth.

"With the World Cup less than two years to go, it's good to have as many youngsters ready. It will be a dress rehearshal ahead of the premier event," he said.

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Hussey: India will miss Zaheer

Australian vice-captain Michael Hussey said India will miss the services of pacer Zaheer Khan in the upcoming ODI series.
However, Hussey said the hosts still have a potent bowling attack that cannot be underestimated.

Zaheer has not been included in the Indian squad for the first two ODIs as he is recuperating from a surgery after injuring his shoulder during the second Indian Premier League in South Africa earlier this year.

"The last time we were here (for the Test series) Zaheer Khan was a crucial bowler for the Indians and his absence will be a big loss to their attack," Hussey said on the eve of opening encounter of the series.

"Ishant Sharma still looks a wonderful bowler to me, he is always a difficult customer. I have not faced the other quickies much while we were here but they have a very good bowling attack and it will be wrong to underestimate them," he said.

"They have some fine bowlers who bowl well in Indian conditions," he pointed out.

Even though Hussey praised the Indian spin attack, he hoped the Aussies would be able to put pressure on the hosts to come out triumphant in the series.

"It's wrong to underestimate the Indian spinners. Harbhajan Singh has an amazing record and has played some brilliant games for long. (Amit) Mishra is a very good spinner as well. Hopefully, we can put all their bowlers and batsmen under pressure and we can come out on top," he said.

The left-handed Australian batsman whose career got off to a sensational start before hitting a plateau, agreed with India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's view that the length of the series would provide the teams an opportunity to bounce back.

"I agree (with Dhoni's view). The more matches, the more chances you have to get back into the series if we get off to a bad start," Hussey said.

He also stressed on the importance of gaining a momentum in the series, which, he felt, both teams would strive for.

"Both teams play well with momentum. Once the Indians get confidence and momentum, they can be very difficult to stop.

"It is similar with Australia. Once we get momentum and confidence we are a difficult team to stop as well. The first few games are going to be crucial. But if things don't go right there's still time to try and catch up in the series," he elaborated.

Hussey also agreed with Dhoni that the visitors too were not motivated by the ICC rankings.

"We are not really motivated by rankings. It is nice to be the No. 1 team in the world, but we don't study the rankings so much. Our focus is to try and win the series against India.

"India in India is one of the toughest challenges for an Australian. We are looking forward to just playing here and trying to win the series without concentrating on the rankings," he added.

The 34-year-old left-hander also said that he was not all concerned about reports back home that he is in danger of losing his place in the Australian Test side.

"I saw the headline and to be honest I can't be concerned about that right now. We have seven ODIs here to worry about now. I am sure the selectors would be looking at every player's form, not just mine, before they take a decision on the first Test (team composition)," Hussey said.

"I would like to make as many runs as I can. A good show with the bat will definitely help when it comes to team selection," he added.

On their return home from India, Australia will host the West Indies for three Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals starting November 26.

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Michael Hussey determined to bat on in all three forms of the game

Australian batsman Mike Hussey believes he doesn't need to give up his spot in the one-day side in order to prolong his Test career, declaring he has the hunger and motivation to make it to the 2011 World Cup.

But the 34-year-old predicts Australia will soon be forced to adopt a squad mentality similar to that used by soccer clubs in the English Premier League in order to cope with the increasing demands of world cricket.

Hussey has endured a barren year on the Test arena in 2009, producing just three half-centuries before a career-saving 121 in the fifth Ashes Test in England in August.

But the classy left-hander believes he can still handle all three forms of the game for several more years yet, saying he worked hard just to get a single game for Australia and wasn't about to give up his spot without a fight.

“I'd love to be involved in the next (50-over) World Cup for Australia, so to do that I've got to play well, put good performances on the board and hopefully the team keeps winning,'' Hussey said ahead of Australia's one-day tour of India, which starts on Sunday.

“That's my goal certainly.

“One-day cricket I really enjoy.

“I know a lot of people have been talking about the future of one-day cricket but for me personally I think one-day cricket has a huge future in the game.

“It caters for so many different types of players and it's a form of the game I really want to be a part of.''

With the cricket calendar becoming increasingly congested, especially since the explosion of Twenty20 cricket, Hussey acknowledged the need to rest certain players.

“I think what's going to happen is we are going to see more of a squad mentality used,'' he said.

“We've got 25 contracted players and I think you'll find that more of those 25 players will be used over the course of a calendar year, much like say a Manchester United or an English football club where they are using a whole squad when they are playing so many games.

“I think that's going to have to happen, particularly the fast bowlers, we are going to have to manage those players pretty well.

“And some senior players, someone like Ricky.

“He's already had some scheduled breaks along the way.

“It's important to get the players playing close to 100 per cent for the real important games.''

However, Hussey said he would be reluctant to take the option of rest for fear of losing his spot for good.

“For me personally it took me 10 years just to get one game so I'm not that keen on resting or giving someone else a chance to take my place,'' he said.

“There's so many young guys out there wanting their opportunity to play for Australia so it is a tough one, but you have to have faith in the selectors and the coaching staff and listen to your body as well.''

While the fans are leaving the 50-over game in droves, paceman Mitchell Johnson said it was still held in high regard by the players.

“Test cricket is No.1 for me but then it's followed by 50-over cricket,'' he said.

“I prefer 50-over cricket (over Twenty20).

“I hope it doesn't die because I love the game.''

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