CHENNAI: Mike Hussey doesn't exude the aura of a superstar but when it boils down to getting the job done, there's hardly anyone better than the Aussie veteran in the Chennai Super Kings ranks.
A selfless team man, Hussey doesn't even mind sitting out the odd game for the sake of team composition. For him, it's about maximizing the chances that he gets, and that's helping CSK no end.
The former champions have won seven games till now and in six of those, Hussey has made telling contributions at the top of the order. But his performances don't always get deserving attention. Even on Sunday, in the drama of Manvinder Bisla's heroic run chase and Chris Morris' superb last over, Hussey's contribution of 95 from 59 balls was almost forgotten. But CSK coach Stephen Fleming knows how crucial the man is for their chances.
"He is a dynamic cricketer. From his work ethic to the way he conducts himself on the field, Hussey is a role model for the entire team," Fleming said on Sunday.
Hussey has never been an opener in his life, but he opens for CSK. He has been a guiding light for M Vijay, who keeps oscillating between the sublime and the ridiculous. And on Sunday, he had a partner who hasn't opened for Super Kings — Wriddhiman Saha. "Saha is a good player and just look at the way Hussey guided him. They set the platform for us," Fleming said.
Hussey, despite a very bright start this season, was dropped against Pune Warriors, a game which CSK lost. It was a wrong decision on the part of the team management and it was good to see Fleming acknowledging it after the Sunday triumph, which took them to the top of the table. "There were some talks about Hussey playing slow. But I don't think such talks make any sense. Hussey plays according to the situation," said Fleming.
Hussey doesn't have the arrogance of the power-hitter. The 37-year-old runs every single like a 17-year-old and prefers waiting for the loose ball, which isn't a rarity in this format, with many mediocre bowlers present. Of course, the man also has the ability to send good balls to the fence but Hussey prefers taking calculated risks. "That's the beauty of his game and the maturity of the man," the coach said.
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