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Michael Hussey also in the firing line

12th December, 2011
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Roar Guru
12th December, 2011
15
1249 Reads

The Australian batting line-up is currently as fragile as butterflies made of snowflakes. As pretty as that sounds, from an Australian perspective it makes for some ugly, albeit extremely engaging, Test cricket.

As exciting as yesterday’s finish to the 2nd Test against New Zealand was, and there is no doubt that it was as gripping as David Warner’s bottom hand, the reality is that Australia’s batting performance in the Test simply wasn’t good enough.

It is true that the pitch in Hobart was challenging and a tinge of Hulk-green.

However it wasn’t a minefield, and after collapses of varying degrees in each of the last four Tests it is clear that something needs to change ahead of the Boxing Day Test against India.

David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Michael Clarke are all safe. Warner just carried his bat and hit a gritty ton, Khawaja has probably done just enough to be persisted with, and Clarke is the captain (and a selector).

Brad Haddin is hanging onto his place by the webbing of his ‘keeping gloves. Haddin’s likely successor is Tim Paine, but with Paine on the long-term injury list the selectors will persist with Haddin.

So those under the microscope are narrowed down to Phil Hughes, Ricky Ponting, and Michael Hussey.

While there has been a lot of noise about Hughes and/or Ponting being dropped, Mr Cricket has been flying under the radar. Let’s take a look at their recent stats:

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Hughes’ scores over the last four Tests: 9, 9, 88, 11, 10, 7, 20. Avg = 19.25.
Ponting: 8, 0, 0, 62, 78, 5, 16. Avg = 24.14.
Hussey: 1, 0, 20, 39, 15, 8, 0. Avg = 11.86.

It is true that even I was proclaiming the evergreen Hussey as somewhat of a superhero after the series against Sri Lanka. Not least of all due to the fact that he looks eerily similar to Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four.

But the stats speak for themselves (figuratively, not literally) and this is not the first time in his career that Hussey has hit a dry patch. Although Ponting and/or Hughes may also go, with age against him and his form on the wane, Huss is a man under pressures to hold his spot.

If he is fit, Shane Watson should come in for Hussey and bat at six. If not, the man in need of a surname, Dan Trevor Christian, should come into the side.

The inclusion of Watson or the in form Christian will also improve balance of the Australian side as it would add depth to the Australian bowling attack.

This is something that could prove invaluable should India’s batting line-up hit form down under and force some long days in the field for the Australians during the series.

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