Anderson says England deliberately targeting out of form Hussey

MELBOURNE - England’s fast bowler James Anderson has admitted that they are trying to target Mike Hussey during this Ashes series.

Hussey’s 150 against the England Lions in Worcester last week seemed a distant memory after Anderson extended the left-hander’s lean Test run in Cardiff on Friday.

Hussey made just three from 16 balls in the series opener before being caught behind, and he has now posted just one half century in his last 13 Test innings.

“He’s one guy that has not had the best year in Test cricket. We certainly let him know that and luckily we got him cheaply today because we saw what good form he was in at Worcester,’ Anderson said.

Hussey inside-edged a full toss outside of off stump back onto his legs early on in a sign that he was a bit on edge and knicked a straight ball from Anderson to wicket keeper Matt Prior, FOX Sports reports.

Hussey, however, received the backing of his vice-captain Michael Clarke. “I think Huss is fine. He batted beautifully in Worcester and he is hitting the ball well and as Hussey does, he is training as much as ever,” he said.

“It is hard for him today watching Kato (Simon Katich) and Punt (Ricky Ponting) for a long period of time and then to go out there. I think Huss is in really good form and he is not far away from a really big hundred.

“I think that is one thing that Michael Hussey does do, once he makes a start he really goes on with it,” Clarke added. (ANI)