BBL: Mike Hussey form sparks World T20 calls, Shaun Tait fiery, Windies stars in Hobart
HEY, Mr Cricket – what are you up to in March?
If so, your country could do with your services for a certain World Cup in India.
Cricket pundits and fans were calling for Michael Hussey to venture out of international retirement on Friday night, after his brilliant BBL knock of 71 off 51 balls for the Sydney Thunder against the Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena.
With his side 2-1 in the first over, the Thunder captain strolled to the middle and, as cricket fans have seen him do many times over the past decade, he got to work straight away.
In a mature T20 masterclass that featured his trademark pull shots and excellent running between the wickets, Hussey – ably supported by Aiden Blizzard (23 off 21) – got the Thunder back on track.
He smashed 10 fours and one six to give his side every chance of winning, before he ran out of partners and was forced to hit out as the balls left to runs to win ratio widened, leading to his wicket.
Still, age seems no barrier for Hussey who, at 40-years-old, is still one of the BBL’s most dynamic batsman. From four innings so far this summer, he’s scored 167 runs, including two half-centuries and two not outs.
But Hussey isn’t just impressing with bat in hand, as his fearless captaincy has been a big reason behind the Thunder’s great start to the tournament.
Hussey constantly rotated his Thunder bowlers at the start of the Hurricanes’ innings, making it very difficult for Hobart’s top order to settle. He used six different bowlers in the opening six overs and it paid off, with the Hurricanes just 1-38 at the end of the powerplay.
“You can’t get settled to any bowlers with Mr Cricket’s changes of bowlers,” Channel 10 commentator Damien Fleming said
BOWLERS STAR
Speaking of players who put their hand up for national selection, three bowlers didn’t do their chances any harm.
Mecurial ultra-paceman Shaun Tait snared 3-16 off four overs after getting thumped by the Heat last start. Tait took two wickets in his first over, getting Jacques Kallis and Shane Watson for ducks after appearing to genuinely unsettle them with 150km/h pace.
“The wicket had a little bit in it for fast bowlers so it probably played in my favour,” Tait said.
“Getting early wickets is the key for me and for the team and we started off well with the ball.
“I had to come back personally from the last game. I got hit to Kingdom Come last game at the Gabba, so it worked out.”
Tait was asked about Warne’s World T20 call and if he was officially retired from international cricket - it appears there will be no comeback.
“Warney knows what he’s talking about doesn’t he?” Tait laughed.
“I’m having fun back playing, the body’s feeling pretty good, but I’m happy here in Hobart.”
Young leg-spinner Cameron Boyce again stood tall, claiming 2-24. He got smashed for six by Andre Russell, but had the courage to toss it up again and he got the huge-hitting West Indian caught in the deep two balls later.
“I thought they were on top while Hussey was in,” Hobart wicketkeeper Tim Paine said.
“But Cameron Boyce bowled terrifically to him just to tie him up a bit, showing you can put pressure on even the best players and things can go your way.”
Veteran paceman Clint McKay also impressed, with his best T20 figures of 4-28.
Thunder keeper Chris Hartley said of McKay: “He’s got great variety, which is what you want in this form of the game – he’s got all the tricks. He’s showing his experience and really leading the attack.”
NO SLAM DUNK
Two summers ago, Ben Dunk was the most destructive and consistent batsman of the BBL.
But in BBL05 to date, the Hurricanes opener has failed to have any impact on the competition, let alone match his lofty BBL03 heights.
Dunk’s ordinary start to the T20 summer continued on Friday night, managing a scratchy 15 off 10 balls against the Sydney Thunder. It took his total BBL05 run tally to just 48 with a miserly average of 12.
Two years ago, he was named the player of the tournament for amassing 395 runs at 43.88, with a strike rate of 145.75 for the tournament.
What makes Dunk’s T20 form slump just as disappointing is that he came into the BBL05 in blistering red ball form, topping the Sheffield Shield run tally with 595 runs at 66.11, which included three centuries.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to carry on that form.
PONTING WANT TO COACH AUSTRALIA?
He’s been performing well in the commentary box, offering the insights and blunt criticisms that come after a legendary Australian career.
But after a brilliant start to his coaching career with T20 IPL side the Mumbai Indians, would Ricky Ponting be keen to coach Australia one day?
“I’d love to be back involved with Australian cricket somewhere,” Punter said.
“I’d love to be able to work with the best young players in Australia. I love the game that much. I love trying to help young players out.
“Even some of the guys in the side now, like Steve Smith and Dave Warner, were just starting out towards the backend of my career, so I was forever trying to do everything I could to help them through their early days, whether that be technical or tactical stuff, or the way they prepare and think about their cricket.
“Realistically for me, it’s a 10-month per year job. Where I’m at with family life, commentary work and a bit of stuff with the IPL.”
So is IPL a big enough coaching fix?
“Yeah it’s pretty full on. When you think about it, it’s probably 10 or 11 weeks over there with the tournament, then you’ve got auctions and players you’ve got to release as well,” Ponting said.
Ponting was also asked about Justin Langer being the replacement coach for Darren Lehmann for the ODI series against West Indies.
“No discredit to anyone else involved in coaching in Australia, but there’s not a better man to take over from Darren Lehmann than Justin Langer,” Ponting said.
“His passion is undoubted, his knowledge of the game is outstanding and what he’s done to be able to bring that group of players together in WA … you think about two or three seasons ago, they were just about the laughing stock of Australian cricket – they’re certainly not now.”
RECORD CROWD IN TASSIE
Blundstone Arena turned it on for the Hurricanes v Thunder clash.
A superb 17,151 turned out in the biggest-ever cricket crowd at the venue, surpassing the 16,719 for an Australia v England ODI in 2003. The figure was just 400 short of the 17,544 a Richmond v North Melbourne AFL clash.
There were two obvious takeaways from the crowd success.
The attendance was bigger than the entire first Test match between Australia and West Indies at Bellerive, which only managed 15,343 across three days of play, in yet another stunning reflection of the popularity of T20 against the waning Test format.
And ironically, it was two West Indian players providing much of the enjoyment. Andre Russell took an all-time great catch and smashed a 97-metre six for the Thunder, while Darren Sammy has proven immensely popular with the Hobart crowd and played an entertaining innings despite some scratchy form.