Lack of Twenty20 games, feels all-rounder David Hussey, whose team has benefitted from Big Bash participation
Lack of Twenty20 games, feels all-rounder David Hussey, whose team has benefitted from Big Bash participation
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David Hussey in full flow during the first Twenty20 match against India
at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday. Pic/Getty Images
India, still searching for their first victory since the tour kicked off on December 13 with a warm-up tie against Cricket Australia Chairman's XI, are expected to ring in some changes after their lacklustre performance at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on Wednesday. Skipper MS Dhoni played three spinners -- R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Rahul Sharma -- despite torrential downpour in Sydney in the lead-up to the first T20. After the game, Dhoni admitted that the wet weather backfired on his team as the spin trio conceded 108 runs from 13 overs.
With the Melbourne weather as unpredictable as a good Indian performance, expect Irfan Pathan to replace Rahul Sharma, and a toss-up between Umesh Yadav and Vinay Kumar for the third seamer's spot.
Considering the Aussies have an impressive record in T20Is at home, having won 12 of 14, it will take a great effort from India to end their win-less overseas run -- which has now stretched to 14 games.
David Hussey, who plays for Victoria in state cricket, was in a buoyant mood while addressing the media besides the Yarra River in Southbank yesterday. Hussey, who was declared Man of the Series in the just-concluded Big Bash League, felt that Indians were short of T20 match practice at Sydney. "It's a big advantage coming from the Big Bash T20 tournament into the international arena. I think it's very important to continue the momentum going forward and play the perfect game tomorrow night. Most of the Indian guys haven't perhaps played T20 of late," he said.
When asked if the Australians had the tourists' measure, Hussey said: "I thought the Indians fielded and bowled particularly well early. I just thought our bowling and fielding trumped theirs. We were lucky enough to get a few early wickets and took the game away from the Indians right from the start."
Hussey, who followed his 30-ball knock of 42 with a catch and bowling figures of 2-4 at Sydney, said he expected the MCG wicket to be flatter and faster than the drop-in pitch at ANZ Stadium which was hosting an international match for the first time. "Last night it was a great atmosphere, but coming here to the home of Australian cricket at the MCG with hopefully 90,000 people there, there's no better feeling and no better atmosphere throughout the world," he said.
Warner's switch-hit
Meanwhile, Hussey paid tribute to David Warner's remarkable switch-hit off R Ashwin on Wednesday. "Davey is a very classy player, he can bat right-handed or left-handed. It's just a new invention of Twenty20 cricket and I think it definitely should be allowed. I think everything is snowballing from Twenty20 cricket. You see in baseball there are people who bat both sides of the plate so there's no reason why you can't do it in cricket. Davey is probably a pioneer. Hopefully a few of the younger kids coming through can work at those skills," he said.
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