Michael Hussey – The Cricket Specialist
Michael Hussey, for what do you remember him and what he actually was? An Opener ? A middle order batsman ? A finisher ? Mr. dependable ? or a fielder ? For me he was nothing but a dream, a shadow of the term BATTING and a player who can’t be remembered for just a single thing, but for everything which a batsman can be possibly remembered for. He was the specialist in all the formats of the game, purely an all-rounder.
Michael Hussey – Not Dependent Upon His Batting Order
He started his career as a traditional opener for his county club and served for years and even after scoring tons of runs in the Shiefeld Shield for almost a decade, he never got selected due to the packed and steady Australian line up. Michael Hussey, who is so rightly called as Mr. Cricket in International Cricket. He is known for his different contribution in cricket, starting from opening the inning to batting with the last man. He was the rare bread of players who never give excuse of batting order, who are not dependent on other partner. Mike Hussey averages 51.52 in Tests matches with 19 hundreds and in ODIs his avg goes to 48.15 with 3 hundreds and lots of match winning knocks. After making his debut in 2005 till he retired, he was the rock solid constant performer for Australian team. He remains the most impact and efficient player of the decade for Australia.
For most part of his career he was always been compared with Bevan, but his career suggests something different. He was far more different from Michael Bevan. The only common thing between both of them was their “Finishing” ability. In all other aspects Michael Hussey out scores his opponents by fair margin, to name a few Dhoni, Yuvraj, Bevan, Klusner or Flintoff.
Michael Hussey – An ODI Specialist
As soon as he arrived in One Day Cricket, he was termed as a ODI specialist batsman, and soon he proved it right and within 3 years from his debut he was recognized as the Australian ODI Cricketer of the year, Allan Border medal presentation with Gilchrist, Symonds and Lee. Soon he carried his success to Test Cricket too and by the time Australia visited South Africa in 2006 Hussey already had 3 vital Centuries in his name. He was the key and impact player for Aussies after retirement of Waugh brothers. Few of his inning will be remembered forever in test matches especially in Australian Cricket history. In his first inning at South Africa, New Wanderers M. Hussey scored 73 runs to help Australia build a good total. But the climax was the second inning where he displayed his versatility in Cricket by opening for Australia after Langer got Head injuries. Along with Damien Martyn, Hussey scored 89 runs and helped Australia to chase down 292 runs in 4th inning. Followed by awesome performance in Africa he carried the same form in ASHES and yet again proved to be a Mr. Dependable for Aussies. England 2006 Ashes at Oval, he scored 91 in first Inning in reply of England’s mammoth 551 runs total. On the final day with a draw seeming certain, Hussey Came and scored quick fire 61* to help Australia chasing down the target from nowhere.On 18 April 2006 Hussey set a record as the fastest player in terms of time to reach 1,000 Test runs. Hussey was also the fastest player to reach the top 10 of the LG ICC cricket ratings. He maintained an exceptional average of 105.25 in the 2006–07 Ashes series, which Australia won 5–0. He was known for batting with tail-ender, on many occasions he was able to build a good partnership with tail-enders or lower middle order batsmen. Back in 2005 Boxing day game, he helped Aussies to build a decent total after loosing 9 wickets for less than 250 runs. Along with McGrath he added 107 runs for Australia for last wicket. Over the last seven years he has put in a number of memorable performances in Test cricket, one-day internationals and Twenty20. His most famous score was in T20 World Cup semi final against Pakistan, where he again proved that Batting in T20 is not always about slogging, he scored 60 off 24 balls and helped Aussies in fighting against England in T20 WC final.
Michael Hussey – Rightly Called Mr Cricket
Hussey can be considered among the most impact players of International Cricket. He was consistent throughout his career, scoring all over the world at any position depending on situation. He was very well-known for his fielding ability also. At the age of 30 when he made his debut, he proved everybody wrong by his breathtaking catches at Cover & point position. He was very accurate in his throw often resulting in running out batsman. And most importantly he was a great team man too, often compromising for his batting position for his team. He will be remembered for various reasons in Cricket, the reason why he is called as Mr. Cricket.
Michael Hussey announced his retirement from international cricket after the 2012 Boxing Day Test at Melbourne and he currently plays for Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League.As Hussey retires, he has left back his glorious domination in World of Cricket and the much-needed experience in the batting line up of Australia, just before back to back Ashes 2013/14.
Be it Test, T20, ODI or IPL, Michael Hussey was the specialist.
