Michael Hussey: Top 5 innings in International Cricket

Michael Hussey celebrates after the win against Pakistan at the World T20 in 2010

The Huss-Master as he is known had to wait a very long time to make his impact on the world stage. He made his international debut at 29 and his Test debut at 30. He finished with an average of over 50 in Test cricket, something that is right up there with the best. Hussey was also defined as the perfect finisher and heir to Michael Bevan’s role in the team. This was one role that Hussey executed to perfection, leading the Aussie’s to some memorable wins.

5. 73* vs India in October 2009.

The stage was set for a riveting 7 match one day series, with the team drawing first blood gaining an advantage over the next six games. His 73 came in double quick time as he scored it off just 54 balls. That brilliant finish from Hussey took Australia up to 292, which would end up being enough as India would fall 4 short of their target. Hussey scored 23 of the last 11 balls he faced, and took the Indian bowlers to task. This innings resulted in Australia winning the first game, and then going on to win the series, comfortably, 4-2.

4. 137 vs West Indies in November 2005.

It was Hussey’s second Test and he had scored just 1 on his Test debut and managed only 29 in the second innings, his place was under serious pressure, as Justin Langer was set to return to action in the third Test. But Hussey would ensure he booked his place in the side with a solid 137, adding 231 runs for the opening stand with Hayden. And he went on to score his first of nineteen tons in test cricket.

3. 46* vs England and 65* vs New Zealand in the 2007 CB Series

Australia were down at 48-4 when Hussey joined Clarke at the wicket. The Australians were chasing a modest 155. The pair put on a 45 run stand before Clarke was removed with 62 still needed, White was removed for 5, with 48 still needed, Lee came to the wicket and survived a brilliant spell of pace bowling by Flintoff. The pair would get to the total with relative ease after surviving Flintoff’s spell.

Michael Hussey turned savior again for Australia twice in two games as he batted with the tail, and set up to improbable wins. Australia were tottering at 17-3 when Hussey and Clarke came together, the two were given a few lives initially and went on to take full advantage. Michael Clarke would depart in the 38th over, triggering a collapse, with Lee and White falling in the space of a few balls, Nathan Bracken then fell with 2 needed, but Mr. Cricket would take his team past the total with a majestic six over square leg.

2. 195 vs England, November 2010.

Questions over the Huss Master’s game were all over the place, with people calling for his retirement, after failures in the warm up games and a poor run of form on the whole, but that’s when he would do what he does best, fight back, hard. He would play a gritty innings of 195, which would end up being his best score in Test cricket. The match would end in a draw, and Australia would end up losing the series, with Hussey topping the charts in the batting averages. But that knock of Hussey certainly helped him prolong his career as a Test cricketer, as he went on to play for 2 more years.

Michael Hussey

1. 60* of 24 vs Pakistan in 2010.

Mr. Cricket was known for his elegant stroke play and clinical finishing. But little did we know how brutal he could be, something that Saeed Ajmal found out, quite rudely. The stage was set with Pakistan notching up 191 in their 20 overs. With the score at 105-5, with Hussey’s younger brother departing, he arrived at the crease with Cameron White. Hussey would watch White and Smith depart with Australia stuttering at 144-7 with 17 balls left. Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson then came together to put on a 53 run stand in 16 balls. With 17 off the last five balls, Hussey would take apart Ajmal scoring two delightful sixes over the leg side, following it up with a slice over point and bringing the equation down to 1 run of 2 before finishing it off with a slog over long-on.