Hussey backs Australia staying power
Australia's Michael Hussey has rubbished suggestions his side face World Cup defeat against India now they are without retired game-changers Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: March 22, 2011 05:39 PM IST
Australia's Michael Hussey has rubbished suggestions his side face World Cup defeat against India now they are without retired game-changers Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist.
India's Yuvraj Singh, speaking after an 80-run win over the West Indies that set-up the quarterfinal clash with the defending champions, said: "Australia are a top side, they've won three successive World Cups but Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden are not there.
"If we can get into their weaknesses, we can win the quarterfinal."
But Hussey said the way Australia had won a one-day series 4-2 in India in 2009 without Gilchrist, who scored a century in the 2007 final, opener Hayden and bowling stars McGrath and Warne, was proof local conditions held no fears.
"We've won quite a few series against India in one-day cricket over here in the last few years without the likes of McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist and Hayden," said Hussey.
"We can come into this game with a lot of confidence, because we have played well against India in Indian conditions in the last few years, and won some very tough series."
However, the last one-day series on Indian soil between the two sides saw India emerge 1-0 winners although two matches out of three were washed out.
Australia go into Thursday's quarterfinal on the back of a four-wicket defeat by Pakistan that ended their 34-match unbeaten run at the World Cup.
But Hussey backed Australia's big-game temperament to emerge, saying: "I'm sure the ground will be a packed house and it will be a great environment to play our best cricket."
For the first time since the 1996 World Cup, sides will need to win three successive knockout matches to lift the trophy and Hussey said: "The teams that win their quarterfinal - and win well - can take that confidence and momentum into the semifinals.
"This is a huge game for us. We believe that if we can beat India then we have a great chance of going all the way."
Hussey added he expected Australia's fast bowling trio of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson to probe the Indians' supposed vulnerability to short-pitched bowling.
"I hope so, because we have to face them in the nets and (since) they don't mind giving us a few short-balls they can certainly give some to the Indians as well.
"They like to be aggressive, they like to take wickets, they like to try and ruffle the batsmen with some short stuff as well."
"They're bloody fast bowlers so it can be very difficult to play and let's hope they have the Indians on the hop."