Interim West Australian skipper Mike Hussey says he’s spoken individually to his teammates as the embattled team look to topple unbeaten Victoria in the Sheffield Shield match starting at the MCG on Thursday.
Hussey wasn’t a member of the Perth Scorchers who went on a boozy night out in South Africa, resulting in Shaun and Mitch Marsh being dropped from their final Twenty20 Champions League game.
The 37-year-old Test batsman this week replaced skipper Marcus North, who said he wanted to concentrate on his own form.
Hussey said his winless team are determined to focus solely on the Shield game and put the off-field issues behind them.
“I’ve spoken individually to the guys that were there and they really want to put it behind them and move forward and really show everyone how good they can be,” said Hussey.
“My main message is about eliminating all the distractions and concentrate on playing very good cricket against an excellent Victorian team.”
Hussey said he expects to only hold the position for a week before returning to Test duty.
He said it was an advantage to not bring in any baggage from South Africa.
“It’s very difficult for me to accurately make an assessment on that but I personally don’t think so,” he said when asked about cultural problems within the state teams.
“I’m very rarely around the team. I’ve only played one or two Shield games in the last five or six years.”
He said he would be disappointed should the Marsh brothers elect to play for another state.
Hussey will be out to hone his four-day game ahead of next week’s opening Test against South Africa, with Bushrangers’ speedsters Peter Siddle, Clint McKay and James Pattinson set to give him a thorough workout.
He said former Test bowler Mitchell Johnson would also keep Victoria’s batsmen on their toes.
“He’s seems in a fantastic place, he’s very relaxed and confident with his bowling which is an excellent sign for us and hopefully looking forward for Australian cricket,” Hussey said of Johnson.
In last year’s corresponding match at the MCG, Hussey starred in the WA win, scoring an unbeaten 121 and taking five wickets in the first innings.
Meanwhile, rookie legspinner James Muirhead has been named in the Victorian squad.
With Andrew McDonald, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney and John Hastings all absent on Australia A duties, the 19-year-old is one of four changes to the side that drew with Tasmania last week.
Aaron Finch and Peter Handscomb have been recalled alongside Alex Keath, while Jayde Herrick has overcome his injury concerns to be included in the first-class arena for the first time this summer.
