Almost a year after being dropped from Victoria’s Sheffield Shield side, David Hussey has blasted a classy century against NSW at the MCG.
Hussey demonstrated the power of experience on Saturday, finishing 107 not out as the Bushrangers ended day two on 3-265 in response to NSW’s first-innings total of 366.
The 37-year-old attacked debutant spinners Will Somerville and Patrick Jackson, but showed more deference when facing the likes of Josh Hazlewood.
Hussey brought up his 18th Shield ton in style, effortlessly crashing offspinner Jackson for a six over the long-on fence.
There was scarcely a false stroke in the three hours preceding, the only close call coming in the 52nd over when Hussey almost chopped a good ball from Gurinder Sandhu onto his stumps.
The right-hander was 56 at the time.
The ton was fitting reward for the hard-hitting batsman, who could have easily followed the Twenty20 gun-for-hire path beaten by former teammates Brad Hodge and Dirk Nannes when he was dumped during last Shield season.
Captain Matthew Wade (58 not out) was a fine foil in an unbeaten stand of 135 runs, the most productive partnership of the game.
Wade, recalled by Australia for the upcoming one-day series, and fellow wicketkeeper Peter Nevill both performed well under the gaze of national selector Mark Waugh.
Nevill top-scored against his former side with 87, then pouched a sensational diving catch to remove Rob Quiney.
The 29-year-old also combined with Sandhu to dismiss David King when the debutant’s attempt to leave went awry.
In the morning session Nevill became the fourth NSW batsman to pass 50 in the game, as the visitors added 100 runs to their overnight total.
Hazlewood was almost the fifth, stuck on 43 not out.
His 89-run partnership with Nevill was the state’s best final-wicket stand in 10 years.
It ended shortly before lunch when Nevill lashed at a short ball from John Hastings, picking out Peter Handscomb in the deep.
If Wade harboured any sour afterthoughts about sending NSW in on Friday, Hussey must have eased them.
