Australian batsman David Hussey said Thursday his brother Mike was "desperate" to get back into the World Cup squad after being controversially omitted.
Published: Mar 03, 2011, 07:05 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 03, 2011, 07:05 PM (IST)
Australian batsman David Hussey said his brother Mike was “desperate” to get back into the World Cup squad after being controversially omitted.
Colombo: Mar 3, 2011
Australian batsman David Hussey said Thursday his brother Mike was “desperate” to get back into the World Cup squad after being controversially omitted. Cricket Australia said they would not rush to find a player to fill the void left by pace bowler Doug Bollinger, who returned home with an ankle injury.
“He’s (Mike’s) desperate to get back and play for Australia. He’s back playing (domestic) Shield cricket at the moment. Mike would love to come over here and play,” Hussey, 33, told reporters in Colombo.
Mike Hussey, 35, was left out of the Australian squad that travelled to the World Cup following a hamstring operation. Bollinger’s injury has opened the door to the left-handed Hussey, even though an extra batsman would increase the team’s reliance on Australia’s pace trio of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait.
“If I was chairman of selectors I’d definitely choose Mike first and foremost,” said brother David. “It would be a little bit more special if Mike can come over and play.”
David Hussey said Sri Lanka’s spinners could trouble Australia’s batsmen at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Saturday’s clash between the 2007 World Cup finalists.
“Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) is such a great bowler. But Australia’s had pretty good success against Murali in the past. We’ve had three very good days of preparation. A lot of the boys are practising sweep shots and using their feet to the spin,” Hussey said.
He said Sri Lankan sling-action paceman Lasith Malinga’s fast yorkers would also be a challenge. “Just watch the ball as hard as you possibly can and hopefully your instinct takes over,” said Hussey.
Malinga’s collection of yorkers and toe-crushers earned him a career-best six for 38 and a record second World Cup hat-trick as the home side beat Kenya by nine wickets.
“He’s (Malinga) world-class at the death… bit similar to Shaun Tait. I know Brett (Lee) and Shaun both talked at length yesterday about bowling at the death and getting the ball going reverse. We’ve got two of the best death bowlers in the world who bowl fast at 150-plus kilometres and bowl decent reverse-swing,” he added.
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