Table of Contents
When a professional cricketer reaches the age of 30, very seldom do they get an opportunity to play international cricket and make it their own.
The tale of Mr Cricket, Michael Hussey, is one of the most inspirational ones for aspiring cricketers all over the globe.
Hussey was one of the most pivotal members of the Australian side with versatile roles in each form of the game.
In red-ball cricket, Huss was one the most reliable batsman for the Baggy Greens while in white-ball cricket, he turned out to be an able finisher.
On his 45th birthday, let’s look at the best knock played by Michael Hussey in all forms of the game:
5. 109* vs West Indies 2005
During the DLF Cup tri-series between India, Australia and West Indies, Hussey, who was still finding his feet in international cricket, proved his worth with one of the most special innings played.
Australians were tottering during the 4th match of the series at Kuala Lumpur. With the score at 105, half of their side were back to the hut.
Hussey, in partnership with Brad Haddin, took Australia to a challenging total of 272. Hussey notched up his the then highest ODI score in the game in just 90 balls, smashing ten boundaries and three sixes, at a strike rate above 120.
4. 116* vs Kings XI Punjab
Many remember Brendon McCullum’s epic 158 run knocks in the curtain-raiser of the mammoth Indian Premier League (IPL).
In the subsequent game between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings, Hussey continued the pyrotechnics with his 116* off just 54 balls, at a mind-boggling strike-rate of 214, smashing eight boundaries and nine sixes at Mohali.
3. 137 vs West Indies in November 2005
In his debut match in 2005 against West Indies, Hussey was dismissed cheaply in both innings of the match. With the injured Justin Langer set to make a return in the third Test, Hussey had his task cut out to deliver in his second Test.
Batting out of his natural position in the middle-order, Hussey compiled a career-defining 137 in his third outing in international cricket. He added 231 runs with Matthew Hayden for the opening wicket, thereby ensuring his berth in the side.
2. 195 vs England, November 2010
With the thrashing received from England during the 2010 Ashes series, many put fingers at Hussey’s place in the side, demanding him to retire from the longest form of the game.
Moreover, Hussey, in his own gritty style, answered his critics with 195* and extended his Test career by a couple of years.
1. 60* of 24 vs Pakistan in 2010.
Chasing 190 in the semi-finals of the 2010 T20 World Cup in St. Lucia, Australia was out of the competition already when Hussey walked in, Hussey joined Cameron White with the score at 105-5, and a mountain of runs needed in very few balls. Things only got worse as they lost White with the score at 144-7 and only 17 deliveries left in the match.
However, Hussey and Mitchell Johnson had other ideas as they struck 53 off the final 16 deliveries to take Australia home. Twenty-three of these runs came from the last over off Saeed Ajmal. It was perhaps the best knock played by Hussey in his glittering career for Australia.
