Mike Hussey has done it before. This is how Australia can ‘take the heat off’ a heavy deficit
The Australian batting unit needs to take a large first innings deficit out of their minds and bat big at the MCG according to Test great Michael Hussey.
India was knocked over for 326 just before lunch on the third day of the second Test, leading the home side by 131 runs.
Since 2010, Australia has won just once with a deficit of over 100 – a memorable victory coming against Pakistan at the SCG – a match where Hussey led his side to the win with 134 in the second innings.
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“You’ve got try and put that deficit out of your mind and stick to your process and plan, get in there and get in first,” he told foxsports.com.au at the lunch break.
“The initial 15 to 20 minutes is always the hardest. You try and get in there and then take the responsibility and score a hundred for your team. When you get to 100, you try and turn it into a 150 and build some partnerships along the way.
“If you focus on the score and being behind, you’re doing the wrong things. You just need to worry about getting off the mark and getting your score ticking over.”
With a number of Australia’s top order being horribly out of form, Hussey believed the class would rise to the top if they could “take the heat off” and concentrate in the middle.
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“It’s always a huge challenge. That’s one of the real challenges of Test cricket. Putting all the commentators and press and people in public speaking about your spot in the team, you’re out of form. That’s all an external distraction, you’ve got to put that all out of their mind and just bat,” he said.
“We are the ones who have got to talk about whether they should be in the team or not. The players that will succeed are the ones that are able to take that heat off themselves and go out and play, it’s not easy.”
Joe Burns (4) became the first wicket to call in the fourth over edging Umesh Yadav through to Rishabh Pant.
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Hussey outlined how the morale inside the dressing room would instantly lift if the Australians were able to set a worthy target, giving their top level quicks a chance to fire up for a short stint in what will likely only be a small target to defend.
“It’s a good pick me up (if they can set a strong lead),” he added.
“It gives you hope. If you’re only 40 or 50 in front then you know you’re no hope of winning the game. But if they can get a 150-200 lead, you just never know.
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“The bowlers can go out there with freedom and let’s just give it everything as we know we aren’t going to be out there for long, just have to go as hard as we can for a session or two. You’ve got that freedom and a bit of nothing to lose, you’re expected to lose.
“You can actually go out there and have a good crack.”
Australia currently leads the four Test series 1-0.