Getting Hussey early key to England winning New Year Ashes Test: Swann

SYDNEY - England off-spinner Graeme Swann believes his team can win the New Year Test of the Ashes series if they dismiss Australian middle-order batsman Mike Hussey early.

Hussey has scored 525 runs at an average of 75 in the series so far, which includes his career best 195 in the opening Test at the Gabba.

“I think Mike Hussey has to be the key wicket for the Australian team at the moment as he comes at No.5 and the ball isn’t doing quite as much as at the start, so you have to bowl better to get him out,” The Age quoted Swann, as saying.

“He is the guy in a rich vein of form and certainly on the Australian team he has been the player of the series so far. His wicket was celebrated more wildly than any wicket at Melbourne, especially in the second innings.”

“The last thing we wanted was to watch him bat for two days and not be able to shift him. So to get him for nought was very exciting,” he added.

The 31-year-old further said he would take his personal victory over stand-in captain Michael Clarke in the Melbourne Test to the grave.

“It is always satisfying when you come up with a plan and it works straight away and Straussy won’t mind me saying it was 100 per cent my idea to put him at second slip and bowl around the wicket - if he says otherwise, then that is bollocks,” Swann said.

“I don’t get many pieces of inspiration and brilliance, but that was one of them and I will take that to my grave with me. It was very pleasing,” he added. (ANI)