Mike Hussey has revealed how the pain of being whitewashed by England helped inspire Australia’s one-day cricket team to their stirring 2-1 series victory over Pakistan.
The cool head of veteran Hussey and youthful flair of newcomer Glenn Maxwell combined as Australia chased down a 245-run target with three overs to spare in game three in Sharjah on Tuesday morning.
Playing in conditions so hot and humid that skipper Michael Clarke said he’d never experienced anything like it before, Australia were struggling at 5-159 before Hussey (65) and 23-year-old Maxwell shared a 67-run partnership.
In his first ODI series, Maxwell’s unbeaten 56 came off 38 deliveries and he fittingly hit a six for the winning runs.
The win keeps Clarke’s men in fourth place in the world rankings and continued Australia’s ODI dominance over Pakistan who haven’t beaten Australia in a series since 2002.
Twenty two-year-old Australia paceman Mitchell Starc, who took 4-51 in game three after his 5-42 in game one, was named man of the series while Hussey was man of the match.
Hussey made it clear that making amends for the 4-0 series loss to England in June had been a prime driving force.
“We have wanted this so badly because of what happened in England,” said Hussey.
Clarke was also savouring the moment for his team before flying home as the Australian T20 team head into their three-match series with Pakistan in Dubai starting on Wednesday night.
“The feeling around the group is a great feeling at the moment, especially after losing four-nil against England (in June),” Clarke said.
“It’s very special.”
Clarke said performing in temperatures in the 30s and 93 per cent humidity, despite playing beyond midnight, was a challenge.
“I’ve never played in heat and humidity like this,” he said. “It’s as hot as I’ve played in. But you find a way.”
Clarke said he was grateful to still have 37-year-old Hussey’s experience in his side to blend with players such as Maxwell.
“You’ve seen Maxwell, young, hasn’t played too much cricket, not too much fear, go out and play his natural game,” Clarke said.
Clarke invited Pakistan to bat and they started well as Mohammad Hafeez (78) and Nasir Jamshed (48) shared an opening stand of 129 before Australia’s quicks managed to peg back Pakistan’s momentum with no other batsman reaching 30.
Pakistan’s star spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed 3-37, giving him 10 wickets for the series.
David Warner (21) and David Hussey (43) shared a first-wicket partnership of 44 for Australia but Ajmal’s dismissal of Clarke stumped for 32 was a key blow for Pakistan.
Australia benefited when Hussey could have been out lbw to Ajmal for a duck, but the appeal was turned down and Pakistan decided against calling for a video umpiring referral likely to have gone in their favour.
Hussey and Maxwell went on to pace Australia’s run chase perfectly.
“(New Zealand umpire) Billy Bowden said to me I might have been a little bit lucky early in my innings,” Hussey said.
