| So Australia has lost the Ashes and whilst this might | | | | number 5 and is widely regarded as one of the |
| be synonymous with the end of the world for | | | | world's premier batsmen. His phenomenal displays in |
| Australians, a series of problems await their attention. | | | | the Ashes, whilst his side were capitulating around |
| Mike Hussey, also known as 'Mr Cricket', began 2008 | | | | him, are testament to this. |
| with a Test Match average of 80.56. To put this in | | | | However, at number 5 you are simply responding to |
| context only 4 players in the history of the game | | | | events rather than dictating the terms. Clarke cannot |
| have finished their careers with an average of over | | | | bat at number 3 since Ponting is a class act in this |
| 60 and only one of them (Donald Bradman) had an | | | | position, so that leaves number 4? When Mike |
| average of over 90. | | | | Hussey was hitting a hundred every innings, |
| Currently, Hussey's batting average has slumped to | | | | exempting Clarke from this batting position was |
| 52.65, which suggests his cricketing powers are in | | | | justifiable. Since this is no longer the case, Australia |
| terminal decline. His fall from grace has been | | | | are at serious risk of not fully utilizing their most in |
| punctuated by the occasional Test Match hundred, | | | | form player. |
| his most recent coming in his last innings at the Oval . | | | | Finally, and most importantly, the enormous faith the |
| The Australian selectors will be debating his place in | | | | selectors have given to Hussey is contrary to |
| the side and I believe there are three points of | | | | Australian cricketing philosophy. Australia are renown |
| concern. | | | | for their hard line with players, most famously when |
| Firstly, at the age of 34, Mike Hussey does not have | | | | the legendary Waugh brothers were dropped from |
| time on his side. Anything the selectors hope they | | | | the one day team in 2002. |
| can get from the batsmen must be achieved in the | | | | Hussey is now perilously close to living on reputation |
| here and now. Technical deficiencies that may have | | | | and any closer will certainly undermine the messages |
| been exposed in his game over the last few years | | | | the selectors try to send out to players. If it were |
| must be addressable with slight tweaking. | | | | up to me, Hussey would go. This may be harsh but |
| Secondly, Hussey's poor batting form is not an | | | | Australia need to think long term. |
| isolated problem. Currently, Michael Clarke is batting at | | | | |