- Weather | Horoscope | Stocks
expressindia web
HomeBlogsCricketAstrologyShoppingTendersClassifieds OpinionsTravel Jobs
| Make this your homepage | Archive
Expressindia » Story

India our toughest opponent: Hussey

Font Size

Agencies

Posted: Jan 21, 2008 at 1207 hrs IST

Adelaide, January 21: India have proved themselves in different conditions and they are the biggest thorn in the flesh for Ricky Ponting and his team, believes Australia's middle order batsman Mike Hussey.

"India is right up there. They have proved themselves abroad, at home, in all conditions," said Hussey, after the hosts arrived in Adelaide for the final Test starting Thursday.

"Some very tough cricket has been played in this series and they have my highest regards," Hussey said.

India were minutes away from saving the acrimonious Sydney Test before they eventually collapsed as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

But the spirited visitors bounced back in Perth, scripting a stunning victory to reduce the margin and make it 2-1.

Australia arrived in Adelaide, stung by their defeat at the hands of the Indians while seeking their 17th straight win, as well as their perceived inability to play swing bowling.

"They used the conditions very well in Perth. I don't think it's going to swing as much in Adelaide," Hussey said.

"Having said that, they are obviously a very fine bowling unit, very balanced be it a matter of swing, seam or spin."

Hussey didn't believe his side made the mistake of taking the Indian pace attack lightly, given their inexperience and that they were not the first choice of the visitors in the series.

"Any bowler who bowls at this level ought to be a good bowler. We don't make the mistake of treating anyone lightly."

"We prepare very well against all opponents and with India it was no different at Perth," Hussey said.

Hussey was forthright in his assessment of his team's downfall at Perth, blaming the batsmen for the first innings flop show and their poor shot selection.

"Our shot selection wasn't very good. I personally was very disappointed at the shot I played in the first innings at a wide swinging delivery. In the second innings, I tried to play with discipline and caution and somewhat redeemed my approach of first knock."

Hussey was at the non-striker's end when he saw Ishant Sharma bowl that splendid spell to Ricky Ponting on the fourth morning.

"He obviously is a very fine bowler, disciplined and aggressive. There was a certain uneven bounce on the off-stump and he obviously was bowling a lot better to right-handers than left-handers. In that over, who knows if I was on strike, he might not have got that extra over.

"These are a few little things which can decide the course of a match," he said.

Hussey denied that his side would struggle to come to terms with the defeat of WACA in time for the final game.

"Losing is a part of sport. I made 145 not out in Sydney and then was out for a duck in the first knock in Perth. Sports can be like that sometimes.

"We would have no trouble in coming to terms with the Perth defeat. It's not the end of the world. The boys are pretty determined to put that all behind in Adelaide," he said.

Ads by Google
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
Post Comments
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
Message*
Characters remaining
 
TERMS OF USE: The views represented here are not endorsed by www.expressindia.com. The person writing and submitting the comment is / are responsible for the content of comment. The comment should not have inflammatory, abusive, derogatory language or any language deemed unfit for publication. There will be time lag between the submission and publication of the comments. The website reserves the right to publish or reject any message.
I agree to the terms of use.

Latest News

Business

Showbiz

Sports

'Forces encouraging communal violence will be punished'

Sensex up over 700 pts on FM's assurances

Two-year-old Sonu brought out dead from borewell

6 burnt alive in AP, MLA 'role' in riots being probed

Dasmunsi admitted to AIIMS, condition critical

VP pick Palin is 'a joke': Rushdie

Gene linked to baldness 'discovered'

More
© 2008 Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. All rights reserved
The Indian Express Group | Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Work With Us | Site Map