Hussey's time has come and expect him to make the most of it

Profiles / Andrew Hughes / 29 May 2008 / Leave a Comment

Andrew Hughes looks at the importance of "chance" in cricket. Now that Michael Hussey has established himself in the Australian Test side, the classy left-hander certainly aims to make the most of his own chance.

Michael Hussey made his debut for Western Australia on 5th November 1994. He made a nervy 16 in an hour and a half before succumbing to fast bowler David Milns. He didn't play for his state again that season.

Eleven years later he sat in the visitor's dressing room at St Kilda, Melbourne as fast bowler Gerard Denton started his run up. Western Australia had made a good start, 42 without loss and Langer and Gilchrist were looking set. Though a neat and compact opener in Pura Cup cricket, this was a fifty over game and Hussey was batting at five, so wasn't yet padded up. Most of the dressing room banter was about that winter's Ashes defeat and what changes would be made to the Test line-up. Many of his team-mates felt that after fifteen thousand first class runs, Hussey's turn had to come soon. The question was when? Langer and Hayden had been unmovable at the top of the order for years and both were still going strong.

None of which was of any concern to Denton as he ran in. Maybe he had an image in his mind of the working over that Steve Harmison had given Langer at Lords that year. He thundered up to the wicket and flung the ball down short of a length. It reared sharply and smacked Langer in the chest. He wheeled away in pain and dropped his bat. The physio hurried out, concerned players gathered round and after a few minutes delay, Langer walked slowly off the field, retired hurt. A hospital scan later revealed a fractured rib. Within days he had withdrawn from the squad for the First Test against West Indies. Hussey had finally got his chance.

Fate operates to such hairline margins. Perhaps, if Denton had attempted a yorker, Langer would have played in that First Test. Hussey might have finished his career without a baggy green cap and Australia would have missed out on one of the finest batsmen of the modern era.

Instead, two and a half years on, Hussey is the backbone of the Aussie batting order. The fastest man in history to reach 1,000 Test runs, he currently averages a Bradmanesque 74.83. And he is no mere one-dimensional accumulator. Though his patient game is built on a limited range of bottom-handed drives and deft glances, he is a versatile batsman; capable of unleashing the blistering front-foot pulls and sweep-slogs he employs to such effect in the one-day game.

His versatility has also been an asset. After making his debut as an opener, he was asked to drop down to the middle order when Langer returned. It was a move he adapted to without any complaint, another demonstration of his unselfish, team-orientated nature, or perhaps simply the determination, after such a long apprenticeship, to do whatever is required to hang onto his Test place. When Damien Martyn retired, he moved up from five to four and has made that position his own in the last eighteen months. At the age of thirty-three, some might question his longevity in the side, but given his diligent practice and fitness regime, there is no reason why he cannot maintain his high standards for another four or five years at the top level.

And his versatility could be called upon again soon. When Langer retired last year, the selectors turned to the next generation and Phil Jaques was given his chance. But neither Jaques nor Chris Rogers have yet sewn up that opening spot and with speculation about Matthew Hayden's retirement bound to increase over the next few months, the selectors might well be tempted to ask Hussey to return to his original role as an opener.

They may even be considering it now. With Hayden returning home from the Caribbean with an Achilles tendon injury and stand-in Simon Katich looking far from secure, there is a hint of vulnerability about the Aussie top order batting ahead of Friday's Second Test. The West Indies had their moments at Sabina Park and, with captain Chris Gayle hoping to be fit enough to resume captaincy duties, the home side are [7.8] to record a shock win, with the Aussies on [1.47] and the draw at [4.7]