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| April 08, 2007 | Sunday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 19, 1428 |
Struggling Hussey unhappy with his World Cup results
ST JOHN'S (Antigua), April 7: Australia middle-order batsman Michael Hussey, who has yet to get into double figures at the World Cup, pronounced himself happy with his form but unhappy with his results on Friday.“I feel good and I feel that I'm batting well but the results haven't gone my way,” Hussey told reporters after the defending champions had practised at the Antigua Recreation Ground before Sunday's Super Eights match against England.
Hussey, who has been equally prolific in both forms of the game since he finally got his international opportunity after Australia's 2005 Ashes defeat, has been coming to the crease in the final few overs of the innings throughout the World Cup.
“At the end of the innings you do have to take risks and unfortunately for me they haven't really come off,” he said.
“I've come out in the last three, four or five overs of the innings and obviously at that time you need to take a lot of risks.
“That's part of one-day cricket and that's part and parcel of my job. It's an important job in the team and it's one that I really enjoy.
“But I know there will be times throughout this tournament when I might have to come out when the team's in a bit of trouble and I need to be ready when that comes.”
Australia's batting strength is such that Hussey's place in the side has not been seriously questioned.
He has come to the crease after Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds in the Super Eights and could slip down further if Brad Hodge plays on Sunday in place of injured all-rounder Shane Watson.
Hodge, who scored his first One-day International century in the first round, is the obvious choice to replace Watson and his case was strengthened on Friday when Symonds bowled a long spell of medium pace in the nets.Symonds missed Australia's first two matches while he recuperated from a torn right biceps muscle and so far he has bowled his off-spin only.
If he is able to bowl in both styles on Sunday the case for selecting Hodge instead of a bowler is strengthened.
“He is a very versatile cricketer, obviously his batting and fielding are outstanding,” Hussey said. “I think he is just getting a lot more confidence with his bicep now.
“He's been bowling spin in the nets and in the matches but now he feels he has the confidence in the arm to be able to bowl medium pace as well. Having that all-round package is a huge plus for the team.”—Reuters
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