Mike Hussey is the key to success in Sri Lanka
Columnist 
Australia cricketer Michael Hussey. AFP PHOTO / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI
Related coverage
When Australia is in the cricket trenches, my first warrior to pick would be Mike Hussey. Last night, Australia had to score a minimum 112 against Pakistan to cement a semi-finals berth in the World Twenty20 championship in Sri Lanka.
Chasing Pakistan’s 149, Australia was a very jittery 5-65. But Hussey was still there.
He dominated the crucial partnership of 45 with Matt Wade (13) – the sixth wicket falling at 110 with just seven deliveries left.
Pat Cummins went leg before first ball, leaving Mitchell Starc to join Hussey to see Australia though to 7-117 with Hussey unbeaten on a personal tournament high of 54.
The 37-year-old is still a spring chicken who fields brilliantly in the cordon or out in the country. And he’s no mug with the ball as a part-time seamer, either.
He’s a warrior alright.
So much so that Hussey has topped the tournament averages with 137 by being once out in four visits to the crease with scores of 10, 28*, 45*, and 54*.
He’s only hit nine boundaries, and four sixes. But his strike rate is 120.17, which means he’s kept the scoreboard ticking and the strike rotating.
The perfect 20-over game plan.
By comparison, Shane Watson has been in brutal batting mode to top the tournament run-getters with 242 at 60.50, heading the six-hitters with 15, and fifth in boundaries with 18.
With 162 of his runs into, or over, the fence, Watson hasn’t had to run too much. Just stand and deliver.
Another blaster, David Warner, has been hot and cold with 130 runs at 32.50, including 15 boundaries and just 5 sixes.
So much will depend on these three if Australia is to be the shock winner of this championship.
Pre-tournament the Australians were ranked a lowly ninth in the world.
But last night was their first loss in five matches. From here on in it’s sudden death, so Watson, Warner, and Hussey must fire together, or at least two of them.
To underline how vital these three are, only four Australian are among the top 50 run-getters in Sri Lanka.
Cameron White is the other one who is well down the list, but averaging 55 from just once out in three digs.
So it’s high time for skipper George Bailey (average 21), keeper Matt Wade (13), and 23-year-old Glenn Maxwell (8) to chip in with some meaningful runs.
But I’m backing Michael Edward Killeen Hussey to be the pivot to success, which would rank among the greatest Australian wins, in any format, in recent times.
Passionate about your cricket? Then sign up to The Roar's brand new daily cricket email, delivering Roaring articles directly to you day-in, day-out. You'll love it!
Click here to join now!
Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
The Crowd Says (14) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Cricket, Mike Hussey, T20
October 3rd 2012 @ 6:09am
Matt said | October 3rd 2012 @ 6:09am | Report comment
Watson doesn’t fire, team fails, just as I thought
October 3rd 2012 @ 12:17pm
thesportsguy said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
spin bowlers are key. not batsmen. from what I have seen.
October 4th 2012 @ 3:01am
David Lord said | October 4th 2012 @ 3:01am | Report comment
TSG, you need runs to win game – 10-120 will always beat 0-119.
October 3rd 2012 @ 12:17pm
Christo the Daddyo said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
One of the ways in which T20 is different from the other forms of the game is that averages are pretty much irrelevant. Strike rate is most important, followed by total scores.
I was kind of expecting a loss – and Australia dodged a bullet by having it at this stage, and also doing (just) enough to scrape through into the semis. But yeah, the dependence on Watson is a worry.
Playing the Windies in the semis is a much easier option than either SL or Pakistan I think.
October 3rd 2012 @ 12:27pm
Matt F said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
SL may have actually been a bit easier, though not by much. The WIndies are capable of putting up big scores (they put up 190 odd against us in the group stage) and Narine is one of the best T20 spinners going around. Then again they’re also probably the team most likely to get skittled for under 100. i guess it depends on which WIndies team turns up.
The biggest concern is that, while the pitches started out hard and fast, they’ve slowed and broken up a bit. It’s only going to get tougher given our weakness against spin.
October 3rd 2012 @ 12:32pm
thesportsguy said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
agree with your comments. all the WI players just look so disengaged most of the time! although if they wanna turn it on, they are world beaters.
October 3rd 2012 @ 12:26pm
thesportsguy said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
slightly easier….did you see what hurricane Gayle did the other night in over against NZ? the guy has the potential more then any other player in this tournament to take the game away from you in 1-2 overs.
18 runs in one crucial over is amazing. that 6 of the very first ball even more so.
i still fear for us, simple question, can we put enough runs on the board, or chase down a high total when trying to bat against their spin attack? Narine is very very good in this tournament.
October 3rd 2012 @ 12:31pm
Matt F said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
Watson is still our most important player. our middle order (aside from hussey) is extremely fragile and Watson/Warner need to be around to protect them. Watson also has the added importance of bowling.
In terms of importance it’s Watson first then daylight, though Hussey might just be the next one.
October 3rd 2012 @ 12:31pm
Christo the Daddyo said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
I meant easier in that SL and Pakistan’s spinners are much better than the Windies. Australia matches up better against them than against the sub-continent teams. In fact, they’re actually quite alike at the moment – boh heavily dependent on Gayle/Watson!
October 3rd 2012 @ 12:34pm
thesportsguy said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
fair point. windies captaining is extremely suspect too. Sammy is not that great a bowler, tactician or leader. his decision to bowl samuels in the last over of the game, then in the super over was incredibly stupid, as was his decisions about field placement and not having the right 3rd man/fine leg option.
October 3rd 2012 @ 12:44pm
Brett McKay said | October 3rd 2012 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
I do wonder if Hogg and Maxwell’s efforts, and White’s too for that matter, might be the catalyst for David Hussey to be recalled..
October 3rd 2012 @ 5:30pm
jameswm said | October 3rd 2012 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
If Hogg’s only going to bowl 2 overs, you may as well have Dave Hussey. He can rush through the odd over and is a very smart T20 bat.
October 3rd 2012 @ 2:56pm
Larry said | October 3rd 2012 @ 2:56pm | Report comment
great statistics
October 3rd 2012 @ 11:41pm
isaac said | October 3rd 2012 @ 11:41pm | Report comment
Mike Hussey is an absolute gun of the great game in all formats. Australia would have lost and failed very badly if we didn’t have him in our team. If only we also had his brother.