Hussey's Houdini act gives him fresh lease of life in Oz Test team

Sydney, Jan 7 (ANI): Middle order batsman Mike Hussey saved his position in the team at The Oval during the last Ashes series, and did a double at the Sydney Cricket Ground where his unbeaten knock of 134 in the second innings not only saved his place again, but also led Australia to a sensational victory.

Hussey's 11th Test century gained extra meaning because it proved a match winning effort, but also because he was under pressure to reassert his place in the Australian batting order.

Since his 121 in a losing cause in the final Ashes Test last August, Hussey has averaged 60 but it was not until yesterday that he dispelled the lingering doubts about his place in the team.

"I was fortunate in this game but you need some fortune. I've felt in the last 12 months a lot of fortune hadn't really gone my way. In this game it has, and thankfully I was able to reap the rewards today and get to a position where we had the chance to win a Test match," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Hussey, as saying.

"'To score a hundred in a winning Test match is a fantastic feeling. The last time I scored a hundred we lost the Ashes, and I can tell you I feel a whole lot better now than I did on that particular day," he said.

Peter Siddle helped Hussey, and the pair stuck together for three-and-half hours for a partnership of 123, a record for the ninth wicket in Australian Tests against Pakistan.

"Sids' was brilliant, actually. Our plan was pretty simple ... I was going to try and take the majority of balls and then try and get a single or if they brought the field up maybe hit a boundary and try and get down the other end and face the majority of the following over as well," Hussey said. (ANI)