Zeroes: Michael Hussey

 
If we were writing this piece three years ago, then we would simply be adjudging Hussey a zero on the strength of his then test match average of 86, which meant that as an Englishman we feared that Australia had discovered - albeit belatedly - the new Don Bradman.

Since then Hussey's average has gone into a rapid freefall from 30,000 feet and has now dipped below 50. Football is sometimes referred to as a game of two halves - well, Hussey's test career is a tale of two halves. And after being 5-0 up at half-time, Hussey is now amazingly 6-5 down and is in danger of being substituted before or during the upcoming Ashes series.

Indeed, Hussey only averages 34 from his last 28 tests with just the two hundreds. The first of those came at The Oval in the Ashes decider of 2009 - but the fact that Hussey ran out Ricky Ponting when Australia were going well in pursuit of an impossible target casts a shadow over that hundred.

The second famously came at Sydney in the come from behind victory against Pakistan at the start of 2010, but considering he was dropped on about 75 occasions by the butter fingered Kamran Akmal, Hussey was effectively five wickets down by the time he reached his ton. Since then Hussey has resembled Mr Walking Wicket in tests rather than his ridiculous Mr Cricket moniker.

Despite still cutting the mustard in Twenty 20 and one day internationals, Hussey looks shot as a test batsman. But still the Australian selectors persist with him.

As an Englishman, we will be delighted to see Hussey's brief forays to the crease during the upcoming series even if it means we will have to watch his functional and unflashy batting. But for providing a false dawn that there was a new Bradman on the block and for keeping the flamboyant Cameron White out of the test side, Hussey is a Reverse Sweep zero.

Where next?

Check out all our other Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

Australian Ashes Squad: Player Profiles

England Ashes Squad: Player Profiles

Comments

[Mike Hussey]

Hahahahaha. Ridiculous article.

[The Reverse Sweep]

A poorly timed article, Ill give you that. Hussey has certainly made a number of critics eat humble pie during this series and hats off to him for the guts, determination and sheer quality he has shown to do that.

[J Johnston]

Keep on winning Mike Hussey. Thanks for typing this one up lads, good read.

[The Reverse Sweep]

As a Pom, Im pleased for Hussey that he has had a rebirth - I just hope that he has a blip in melbourne and Sydney!