Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Under normal circumstances, neither a 10-year grind on the first-class circuit, nor three successful years at the top of international cricket are enough to prepare a batsman for a Test series in India. But as has been proven time and again, there8217;s nothing normal about the numbers Michael Hussey racks up.
The only Test cricket Hussey had played in the sub-continent before this trip was two Tests in Bangladesh. In four one-dayers in India, during the Champions Trophy in 2006, he managed to face just 153 deliveries. His most famous cricketing moment in India has been a 54-ball 116 for the Chennai Super Kings during the Indian Premier League.
But his superb first innings effort here, which saw him bat out 276 deliveries over almost seven hours for 146, was by far his most important knock in these parts.
If the opening day of the Test was about a batting great climbing a mountain after several failed attempts, Day Two was about the achievement of a less fancied first-timer who conquered the same peak with a meticulously planned trek. If it was Ricky Ponting who helped Australia overcome a bad start, Hussey took the baton from his captain to ensure a satisfying finish.
As the day8217;s centurion crafted to two vital stands with Brad Haddin 33 and Brett Lee 27, Australia in their first innings posted a competitive total of 430.
Before the Aussies landed in India, the market-driven hype around the series prominently featured batsmen such as Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke but somehow, despite the mountain of runs he has piled up nearly every time he8217;s walked out, the 33-year-old ever-smiling Hussey didn8217;t quite make the 8216;men to watch out for8217; category.
But ask any regular Aussie watcher and they would have put their money on Mr Cricket to bag the MVP award on this trip. With 25 Tests behind him, Hussey came here with a phenomenal average of 68. And with his Test average shooting past 70 today 8212; in a series which was once considered the 8216;final frontier8217; Down Under 8212; his credentials, consistency and versatility will probably never come under question.
He doesn8217;t play too many false strokes and puts a high price on his wicket, but to call him a grafter would be far from the truth. He repeatedly finds gaps in the field, either with a push or a nudge or some free-flowing drives. Even in his post-match comments, Hussey was guarded. 8220;My temperament and style of play suit the conditions but this is just the start of the series and I don8217;t want to look too far ahead,8221; he said.
The rate at which he8217;s going, he is well on his way to gaining all-time-great status as well. Hussey8217;s average of 70 after 26 Tests is way above the corresponding figures of other greats playing in this series itself 8212; after 26 Tests, Tendulkar8217;s average was 44, Dravid8217;s 57, Laxman8217;s 36, Sehwag8217;s 53, Ganguly8217;s 49, Hayden8217;s 45 and Ponting8217;s 39. They all may be more skilled than Hussey, but none can match him for consistency.
