‘We would never have seen, 10-15 years ago…’ – Michael Hussey’s bold statement after Australia’s second consecutive defeat against India in BGT
Michael Hussey (Image source: Twittte)
Australia suffered a further setback in the second Test against India, losing the match by six wickets on Day 3 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, on Sunday, after losing the first Test match by an inning and 132 runs in Nagpur. Many former players and commentators highlighted Australia’s use of the reverse sweep shot against Indian spinners as the main cause of their batting collapse in New Delhi, where India had taken a 2-0 lead in the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
The star performer with the ball was Ravindra Jadeja, who bagged his best bowling figures in an inning of a Test match. He grabbed a match-winning figure of 7/42 in the third innings which helped India to bundle out on a mere score of 113 runs. The remaining three wickets were also taken by another veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin who registered the figures of 3/59.
It is a good shot to have in your armoury: Michael Hussey
Australia set a target of 115 runs for India in the fourth innings which India chased down in the 29th over. Cheteshwar Pujara, who was playing his 100th International Test, scored the match-winning runs. He played an unbeaten knock of 31 runs, with four boundaries. On Sunday, February 19, the Indian Cricket Board announced the squad for the third and fourth Test and the ODI series against Australia which will take place just after the Test series.
Former Australia cricketer, Michael Hussey provided a different explanation for why his team’s batting collapsed and blamed the T20I cricket. Hussey was asked on Fox Cricket if the reverse sweep shots used by Kangaroo batters were a result of their playing a lot of T20I cricket. For instance, Jadeja removed no. 11 Matthew Kuhnemann for a two-ball duck during the second innings after he attempted a brilliant reverse sweep.
“Yes, probably. I mean we are seeing it a lot more in those short-form games. We are seeing ramps and all kinds of different shots, which we would never have seen, 10-15 years ago. You know, that’s a fair comment. It’s about when you choose. It is a good shot to have in your armoury, but it is about playing it at the right time against the right type of bowler in the right conditions and I don’t think they got that right,” Hussey was quoted as saying on Fox Cricket.
