Mike Hussey is unsurprisingly narked at being left out of Australia's World Cup squad. Indeed, if he wasn't, he would be less of a player because every sportsman should want to represent his country in the premier tournament. It's not like he is in bad form. Indeed, he was one of the few redeeming features of a mediocre Test squad against England. As you get older, injuries can take longer to repair but if he is likely to recover in time for the second half of the competition, why not take the gamble? Class is permanent, right? I do share his incredulity at being omitted while his brother David is selected but it's not because I don't rate David. Far from it. It's just that Hussey Jnr has a superior first class average and Hussey Senior's ODI stats are streets ahead not only of his brother but also of almost anyone in the game.
In 151 ODIs, Mike has scored over 4000 runs at almost 52, even better than his world-class Test record. His pull shot may not be a thing of beauty but it is one of the most effective shots in cricket. What maybe counts against him is his lack of really big scores. Surprisingly his only one-day hundred came against the West Indies five years ago, but he does score a lot of half-centuries, many not-outs as he guides his side to another impressive total or victory. On the minus side, he did have a very poor 2007 World Cup and fared badly against England last summer so perhaps the selectors feel the elder Hussey's powers are waning and Australia need to go for youth, hence the preference for Callum Ferguson and Cameron White.
So what about David? Throughout the Ashes series, while all bar Mike and Shane Watson were failing with the bat time and time again, I failed to comprehend why the call did not go to the younger brother. I know he is also the wrong side of 30 but how can they call a man with 12,000 first-class runs at an average of 55 a 'one-day specialist'? He's been prolific in Sheffield Shield and county cricket yet was only promoted to international honours three years ago and then only in the 50-over format. He offers a supporting bowler option and is a very good fielder but that is an asset in all forms of the game, not just the limited-over variety.
I don't want to see brothers at war, and I feel Australia need both Husseys fit and well and what's wrong with having them in the same side? Of course, the Aussies are high on confidence after giving England an ODI 6-1 drubbing and with Ricky Ponting bound to be picked, that leaves room for one fewer extra batsman. White is due a decent score, Ferguson does look a useful player and Steve Smith is proving a popular all-rounder in the making so maybe Australia can succeed without 'Mr Cricket' after all.
As a cricket fan I don't want to see Mike Hussey burn his bridges with colleagues and the ACB and bow out of cricket in a huff and a cloud of criticism from past players like Jason Gillespie. His country needs him as they seek to recover from their Ashes debacle and at 35 he has plenty more in the tank. He may not be around in four years' time, and the same probably goes for brother David, but it would be good to see them once more both scoring runs for fun like they used to.
