Ashes: Aussies will err if they leave out ‘Mr.Cricket’ Hussey, says Arthur

MELBOURNE - Former South African cricket team coach and now coach with Western Australia, Mickey Arthur has said Australia would be “wrong” if they failed to select out-of-form batsman Mike Hussey for the first Ashes Test against England.

Hussey has scored just two Test centuries since the start of 2009 and failed miserably in Western Australia’s recent Sheffield Shield clash in Adelaide, notching a golden duck and three from his two knocks.

South Australian Callum Ferguson and 23-year-old New South Wales run machine Usman Khawaja are two players waiting in the wings should Hussey be axed.

But Arthur said Hussey remained technically and mentally strong and would show his class in the heat of Ashes battle.

“I think Australia would be wrong if they didn’t pick Mike Hussey,” The Age quoted Arthur, as saying on Wednesday.

He added: “He has a wealth of experience, you need your experienced players in a Test match against England and the first Test match of a series it’s really important. Mike’s playing well, he’s hitting the ball well, he’s moving well, there’s nothing wrong with Mike.”

He said: “He just needs a hit-out somewhere and he’ll get that in the one-dayers (against Sri Lanka) and he’ll be fine, there’s absolutely no problem with Huss at the moment.” (ANI)