By Kersi Meher-Homji
November 26th 2009 @ 4:10am
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It’s back to the future time for Michael Hussey
Australia's Michael Hussey, center, bats. AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A
It was on Gabba that Michael Hussey made his belated Test debut in November 2005 against the West Indies. This was eleven years after his first-class debut. He was 30 then and scored only one and 29 as an opener.
But the real Hussey stood up in the next two Tests as he stroked 137 and 31 not out in the second Test in Hobart and unbeaten scores of 133 and 30 in the final Test in Adelaide.
The aged debutant finished the series at a century-plus batting average of 120.33, a record in the series between Australia and the West Indies (In the last two Tests, his average was an incredible 331.00).
More centuries followed and Hussey went on to record 1000 Test runs in only 166 days, the fastest ever. And critics asked: “Where was Michael Hussey hiding all the time? Why did the selectors bypass him until then?”
He kept averaging in the 80s at Test level and statistical comparisons were drawn between him and Sir Donald Bradman.
It was the Cinderella story all over again as Michael “Who” of October 2005 became Mr Cricket in years to follow.
However, the boom of 2005-07 went bust in 2008-09 as runs dried up. But once a thoroughbred always a thoroughbred!
In the final Ashes Test at The Oval this August he was looking at the bottom of the barrel when he made a duck in the first innings.
Critics were penning his cricketing obituary when he scored a gallant 121 in the second innings. It was not exactly boom time again, but he was gaining self confidence.
Still his place in the Australian Test team was in doubt. But it was revived by his performances in six one-day internationals against India in India a few weeks ago.
For an injury-plagued Australian team, he top scored with 313 runs to average 104.33 in the drama-packed series which they won 4-2.
But for this run-making, it is possible that Mr. Cricket could have been omitted from the first Test starting today in Gabba, Brisbane.
What a rollercoaster ride for the classy batsman. Now it’s back to the future as he remembers his uneasy Test debut, same place but four years earlier, and feeling just as vulnerable.
In the 60 Tests Australia has played at home against the Windies, they have won 33, lost 18, and drawn 8, with one tied, the famous Brisbane thriller of November 1960.
In batting, the Windies dominate.
The brilliant Viv Richards scored maximum runs in Australia: 1760 runs at 47.56 in 22 Tests, while the equally spectacular Brian Lara made the top score, 277, in the 1993 Sydney Test.
I was privileged to watch this innings. It was magnificent.
Another West Indian great, Clive Lloyd, has hit the most number of centuries, five.
The only batting record held by the Aussies is the average of 120.33 by Michael Hussey in the 2005-06 series.
In bowling, super quick Curtly Ambrose leads, capturing 78 scalps at 19.79, while Australia’s Glenn “Metronome” McGrath heads the bowling average with 18.28.
Only three have captured 8 wickets in an innings and they are all Australians fast bowlers: ‘Garth’ McKenzie, 8-71 in 1968-69 in Melbourne; The Roar’s own Geoff ‘Henry’ Lawson, 8-112 in Adelaide in 1984-85′ and Merv Hughes, 8-87 in Perth in 1988-89.
In that Test, Hughes took 13 wickets, a record. And it included a convoluted hat-trick spanning two innings.
This should provide inspiration for the current Aussie quicks. Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, in the Test starting today.
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(16)
spiro said | November 26th 2009 @ 7:08am | Report comment
The thing about Michael Hussey is that coming into Test cricket late he has no chance of being dropped and then reinstated. If he is dropped, that is the end of him as a Test cricketer. Personally, I believe there is no one around currently in Australian cricket who could be expected to bat better than he does in his batting slot. In time, perhaps, when Hussey retires Cameron White might be the man, although he isn’t what you would call a prolific run-scorer in the longer forms of the game.
Hussey to a certain extent is a victim of his phenomenal start in Test cricket. For some time he held the second highest batting average for someone who had played, say, five or more Tests. This average in the 80s and then 70s (the second best for players who have finished their Test careers is in the low 60s) meant that he would inevitably be dismissed for lower scores to bring his average down to a more realistic level, which I believe is slightly under 50.
Hussey adds a lot to the team in the field where he is a brilliant catcher.
You would think that he’ll score runs against the West Indies when he gets the chance to bat.
I would hope that he lasts until the next Ashes series, this time next year, and that’ll be it for him, the end to a fair-tale sort of Test career.
Mark said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Really Spiro? I would suggest there is probably someone in the current test team who would do as good a job in the slot – Shane Watson. And to that end, there are at least 3 other openers not in the squad who have test experience who would do a better job in Watson’s current position. So in effect, the selectors are making a hash of the current team just to try and keep certain blokes like Hussey in the team for whatever reason they happen to trot out on the day. And only certain blokes – witness the recent contrasting comments from Hilditch about Hussey and S. Clark.
Hussey already been given quite a long run for minimal return when there are a number of others who could easily have stepped into his position while he’s been failing – let’s not even get started on the travesty of Brad Hodge’s continued non-selection. There is a real sense of the team being kept together because they like one another, recall Hayden’s persistent argument that he brought a lot to the team outside of his batting. That’s nice for those in the team, and team building is clearly importnant, but is it not the case that the Australian team should contain the 11 best players available on the day?
Fisher Price said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Spot on.
The Australian team (3 of its lost 5 Test series lost) should be trying to win, not build the team spirit of Punter’s boys club.
Brett McKay said | November 26th 2009 @ 7:37am | Report comment
Kersi, a great lead-in to today’s action, and I certainly can’t wait for the first over. I’ve just said in Fred McGee’s piece today that I think Hussey will see out the summer, no doubt fuelled by his supurb Indian series and the break on return. I don’t think we’ve seen the end of the Huss just yet.
Spiro, I agree with you that there’s really no-one beating down the door pressuring Hussey, but he should never have been in danger really. That said, I’ll differ from you in saying that prior to doing his knee, I would have said Callum Ferguson would have been the man to come in. In reality now, if Hussey was to make way, I’d expect Phillip Hughes straight in, with Watson shuffling down the order. But even Hughes needs to earn the selection, I’m not sure that he’s done that just yet (as harshly dropped as he was in the first place).
vinay verma said | November 26th 2009 @ 7:39am | Report comment
Kersi..Hussey brings a lot more to the table than just his batting.I am dubious of staistics as they can be manipulated to further an argument. As is evident from the sophistic reasoning behind the article and comments on “Is Tendulkar Overrated”
Hussey has a work ethic second to none. In this transition phase it is paramount the young guns can see and learn what it takes to succeed at the highest level. I question the technique and application of talented cricketers like Warner,Doroupoulus and others whose claim to fame is the Twenty20.
Only a small percentage of cricketers have genius and the rest have to work very hard. In fact even the ones’ with genius like Tendulkar and Ponting,Kallis and Sehwag,work assidiously at their craft. None of these waste their net sessions and practice drills. And as these cricketers get older they work twice as hard to maintain their high standards.
It is like any endeavour. You never stop learning and there is always room for improvement.They say Ponting is slowing down. Anyone who saw him field in the recent ODI’s would have been reminded how quick and accurate his throws are. No one in world cricket hits the stumps as often as RT. Hussey is just as adept and it speaks of the the hours spent chasing that little red cherry. And you cannot fail to admire the energy of Sachin fielding in the deep.At 37, he remains with Dravid the best fielder in the Indian Team.
Kersi Meher-Homji said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
Vinay,
I am surprised that you describe Kallis as a genius. He may have slightly better statistics than Sobers. But Sobers was a genius. Kallis is a hard worker like Hussey.
More surprised that you say Sehwag has work ethics. He is a natural hitter who goes bang-bang every time a ball is bowled to him. Practice nets are not his temples!
To be light-hearted, I feel Hussey’s highs and lows have followed the global financial market. He went boom from 2005 to 2007 like the stocks and the Australian dollar. Then came the financial crises, recession and Hussey’s run famine in 2008-09. There has been a financial recovery since this August. So is the recovery in the batting form of Mr Cricket!
Howzatt?
vinay verma said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Kersi, this is where perception can be a dangerous thing. Just because Sehwag is an audacious batsman it does not mean he doesn’t have a work ethic.
I rate Kallis very highly for his batting,bowling and catching. All round he is better than the FAB Four of the 80’s. Again the perception that he is quiet and a plodder is not correct. He remains a very good Twenty20 cricketer for Bangalore.So he has been at the top in all three forms of the game. Like Dravid ,Kallis does not get the accolades he deserves.
Genius also comes in different bottles and differing labels.
Fisher Price said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
I sense Kallis bats for his average in most cases, but I’m with you on his talent. He’s very underrated.
ren said | November 26th 2009 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
i think work ethic can be well jedged by a players enthusiasm when out in the field for long periods of time. sehwag fails.
Justin said | November 26th 2009 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
Isnt he the only guy beside Bradman with 3 triple 100s?
Fisher Price said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Mike Hussey: one Test century in 28 innings.
His one-day form is irrelevant.
Fisher Price said | November 26th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
‘Opener’ Watson out LBW again. What a surprise.
Brian said | November 26th 2009 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
Could it be that Hussey was never that good? If I recall 2005-2007 his first series was 3-0 victory over West Indies followed by a 5-1 series over the worst South African team we’ve ever seen. Than Australia toured Bangladesh and then won the Ashes at home in 2007. This is when the Hussey run ended. This leaves me wondering if Hussey is talented or rather a hard worker who took full advantage of Australia’s dominance in the 2005-2007 period.
Bring it forward and why would the selectors pick Hussey over a young player like Hughes who can use the experience? As if Hughes instead of Hussey would change the result of the current test match. Ask an experience Football, Rugby or AFL coach and they would tell you to blood the youngster but not Hilditch & Co – apparently Hussey a good bloke
Brett McKay said | November 26th 2009 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
Whatever we think of him, Hussey is 46* at Tea, and for the two-and-a-bit overs I saw into the break, looked pretty untroubled…
Mark said | November 26th 2009 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
I guess you didn’t see the dropped catches then. Perhaps another opposition with a slightly better fielding ethic and Mr Hussey wouldn’t have had that 50. Plus he got himself out with a terrible shot.
That’s the thing about this series though, anyone picked should be able to do well. I suspect P. Hughes given an extended run may have done okay here too.
Alec Swann said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:12pm | Report comment
I have to agree with Spiro. Mike Hussey started his Test career at such a rate that any drop from that level was inevitably going to lead to the questioning of his place in the team.
If Australia have better players than Hussey to bring in then they are very lucky. The recent one-day series in India – forget about the format being played – saw him look like the Hussey of old and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t have a good summer.
And anyway, possible replacements such as Ferguson (I know he’s injured) and Hughes aren’t in the same league and a middle order of Hussey, Clarke and North would be the envy of most sides bar India perhaps.