"I am craving for more consistency"
Middle-order stalwart Michael Hussey tells espnstar.com he doesn’t want to rest on his healthy average in all forms of cricket.
By Joshua Nath
Joshua Nath: You, along with Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson, are the only batsmen who have toured India before in a seven-match series two years ago. Australia won that series. Sans Michael Clarke, is there more pressure on the young team this time?
Michael Hussey: I do not think that the batting will be under pressure even though Clarke is not in the team. Instead, we have lot of faith in the middle order and are confident enough that it will deliver even in tough conditions in India.
JN: In the net sessions in Mumbai, you were seen attacking the spin bowling with full-blooded sweep shots and using your feet to get to the pitch of the ball. Is it a conscious effort on your part to tackle Harbhajan's spin on turning tracks?
MH: Well, I do not have any particular plan to face Harbhajan. I am focusing on playing the bowlers on the merit of the ball. If the ball is there to be hit, I shall hit it and if it's a good delivery, I will defend it. It all depends what the bowler does.
JN: You have been a tremendous performer for Australia in all forms of the game. Even after a mixed 2009, you are averaging over 50 in 42 Tests and 120 ODIs. This is quite an achievement.
MH: Yes, the average has been above 50 for quite some time now. I think I have been quite lucky in that department. Having remained not out till the last many a time has helped. I am not looking too much into those averages, however, I am still craving for more consistency as we are representing Australia.
JN: You went through a string of poor performances earlier this year. How did you manage to overcome this slump?
MH: Well, to be honest, I still felt like I was hitting the ball well even though the scores were not there to show. But it didn't bother me that much.
JN: With cricket Leagues like IPL and CLT20, is there a problem of Club vs Country for a cricketer?
MH: I cannot speak for cricketers from other nations but I can speak for my teammates. Playing a Test match for Australia is our first priority as country comes first for all of us. So with us, we do not face such issues of choosing between country and clubs.
JN: What do you think is the role of T20 cricket in today's scenario?
MH: I think Twenty20 cricket is a fascinating form of the game that has a lot of excitement connected with it. It is a quick format which is more to do with bringing of kids and family into the stadiums to watch the games. This exciting cricket should be used to introduce cricket to newer areas and is good to popularize the sport in different nations.
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JN: Matthew Hayden had said that the 50-over Champions Trophy tournament should be scrapped. What is your take on this statement?
MH: I do not agree with this statement as Champions Trophy was a wonderful tournament for us. It displayed some good talent that we have in our ranks and it has helped us in good stead going into future one-dayers.
JN: So you think one-day cricket will stay put?
MH: Oh yeah, absolutely. It is a very balanced brand of cricket which has a pattern of play throughout the 50 overs, with going over the top in the first few overs then consolidating and building the innings through working the ball a lot in the gaps in the middle overs and then it is the big-hitting towards the end overs that keeps the adrenalin going.
JN: Your favourite brand of cricket?
MH: It has to be Test cricket as it tests the mental strength of batsmen and I really relish that challenge and the success of winning a Test match for Australia really is my first priority.
JN: Ok, if you want to choose two cricketers from the Indian side to play in the Australian eleven, who would they be and why?
MH: I'd choose Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar simply because they are great players and are great to watch when they bat.
JN: Thanks Mike.
MH: Pleasure, mate!
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