The shock axing of Victorian veteran David Hussey has Sheffield Shield champions Tasmania believing they will face a less threatening Bushrangers’ outfit at Bellerive.
Hussey, who played one-day cricket for Australia as recently as January, has been left out of a the Victorian XII following scores of 44, seven and 13 in two Shield matches this season.
The 36-year-old brother of former Test star Michael Hussey still averages 51.71 in first-class cricket.
It is unclear what his future holds at state level after the Bushrangers described his axing as a “difficult matter”.
But Tigers coach Dan Marsh isn’t be disappointed Hussey won’t be there when the match gets underway on Wednesday.
“When you look at the Victorian team he’s one of the first blokes you think about how the hell are we going to get him out,” Marsh told reporters in Hobart.
“He’s been making runs consistently for a long period of time and I’m not sure why he’s been omitted, whether it’s just lack of runs or something else.
“We’re happy he’s not playing.”
Hussey has played 69 one-day and 39 Twenty20 internationals for Australia but could have paid the price for Victoria’s winless start to the shield season.
“Huss is a bit unlucky in that all the other batters are in good form,” Victorian chairman of selectors Andrew Lynch said in a statement.
The axe came even with Australian representative Aaron Finch unavailable for Victoria after he was drafted into Cricket Australia’s Invitational XI to play England in Sydney this week.
Big-hitting Glenn Maxwell and spinner Jon Holland return from Australia A duty, while paceman Clint McKay is back after the ODI series in India.
Test paceman Peter Siddle will be rested ahead of the Ashes opener next week.
Unbeaten Tasmania have lost Ed Cowan (Invitational XI) and former Test paceman Ben Hilfenhaus (resting).
They gain Test squad member James Faulkner and Australia A pair Alex Doolan and Tim Paine.
Tasmania: George Bailey (capt), Tim Paine, Mark Cosgrove, Alex Doolan, Ben Dunk, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Andrew Fekete, Evan Gulbis, Adam Maher, Sam Rainbird, Jordan Silk.
Victoria: Matthew Wade (capt), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Peter Handscomb, John Hastings, Jon Holland, Clint McKay, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney, Chris Rogers, Cameron White.