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Captain wants star batsman back in form
Hussey could bat up the order
Cricinfo staff
March 31, 2007
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Ricky Ponting would like to see Michael Hussey spend more time at the crease
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Michael Hussey might be promoted up the order against Bangladesh in an effort to get him out of his uncharacteristic form slump. Hussey has had a miserable World Cup, with scores of 4, 2, 5 and 9, as well as 15 and 0 in the two warm-up games.
Hussey's opportunities have been limited by the success of Australia's top order in the Caribbean and he has typically come in with only a few overs remaining. However, he also struggled to 9 against West Indies on Tuesday, when he began in the 36th over.
The recent run of low scores is Hussey's leanest patch since his ODI debut in 2003-04. In 65 matches he has recorded an average of 58.63 and developed a reputation as a fine finisher. Ricky Ponting said an in-form Hussey was crucial for Australia and the best move could be to let him bat earlier in the innings.
"It's tempting," Ponting told AAP. "I actually was going to do it in the Netherlands game. I spoke to him about batting up in my spot [No. 3] in that game. We sort of felt with where we were at, we should just keep pushing on."
Ponting said even though he didn't want too much "tinkering" with his side, the move would be considered for the Bangladesh game on Saturday. "We've got a batters' meeting and it's something we will probably talk to Huss about then," he said.
"I know he's a little bit frustrated. He can't take a trick at the moment, either. He chopped one on the other day with a few overs left in the innings [against West Indies], and actually hit a really good shot in the South Africa game and picked the guy out at deep cover.
"He's had a few of those games in a row where nothing is going his way. It's probably something he hasn't had to deal with really in his international career. In both forms of the game, he has come in and had extended success. He's just going through one of those little runs at the moment. If it's going to take batting him up the order to change that around then it's something we are going to have to consider."
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