PERTH, Australia, CMC – Mike Hussey’s lean run against West Indies has prompted spin legend Shane Warne to call for his axing.
The 34-year-old middle order batsman has posted scores of 66, 41 and 29 in his three innings against the tourists in the series and Warne said he believed it was time Australian selectors gave young, attacking opener Phil Hughes a run.
“Hussey should have put his hand up to open, so Shane Watson could bat in the middle order where he belongs,” said Warne, whose 708 wickets from 145 Tests is the second highest in history.
“He’s on his last legs and it might be time to inject some youth into his spot.”
Following a sensational start to his career, Hussey has been enduring a patchy run with the bat of recent. During the Ashes, he managed just 276 runs from eight innings and his century in the final Test at the Oval was his first in nearly a year.
In contrast, the 21-year old Hughes has already crashed two centuries in five Tests, following his debut against South Africa earlier this year.
“He needs to show that playing cricket for Australia is important to him,” Warne said. “He needs to go out and get lots of hundreds at Shield level and show he’s hungry and also that he has overcome the technical difficulties against the short ball.
“He’s a great talent but he has to prove that and that he wants it enough.”
Former Test selector John Benaud echoed Warne’s sentiments, contending Hussey should have been dropped for the Perth starting next Wednesday.
“I believe it is time for Hussey to go. His footwork is terrible. He is totally out of touch. It is not his average that matters when you analyse his form,” Benaud said.
“It has been going down for some time. I would have dropped him in Perth. Australia cannot lose the series. It is a dead Test.”
Australia trounced West Indies by an innings and 65 runs in Brisbane and then drew the second Test in Adelaide to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy in the three-Test series.
