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India our toughest opponent: Hussey

Agencies

Posted online: Monday , January 21, 2008 at 1223 hrs IST
      

Adelaide, January 21:: India have proved themselves in different conditions and they are the biggest thorn in the flesh for Ricky Ponting and his team, believes Australia's middle order batsman Mike Hussey.

"India is right up there. They have proved themselves abroad, at home, in all conditions," said Hussey, after the hosts arrived in Adelaide for the final Test starting Thursday.

"Some very tough cricket has been played in this series and they have my highest regards," Hussey said.

India were minutes away from saving the acrimonious Sydney Test before they eventually collapsed as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

But the spirited visitors bounced back in Perth, scripting a stunning victory to reduce the margin and make it 2-1.

Australia arrived in Adelaide, stung by their defeat at the hands of the Indians while seeking their 17th straight win, as well as their perceived inability to play swing bowling.

"They used the conditions very well in Perth. I don't think it's going to swing as much in Adelaide," Hussey said.

"Having said that, they are obviously a very fine bowling unit, very balanced be it a matter of swing, seam or spin."

Hussey didn't believe his side made the mistake of taking the Indian pace attack lightly, given their inexperience and that they were not the first choice of the visitors in the series.

"Any bowler who bowls at this level ought to be a good bowler. We don't make the mistake of treating anyone lightly."

"We prepare very well against all opponents and with India it was no different at Perth," Hussey said.

Hussey was forthright in his assessment of his team's downfall at Perth, blaming the batsmen for the first innings flop show and their poor shot selection.

"Our shot selection wasn't very good. I personally was very disappointed at the shot I played in the first innings at a wide swinging delivery. In the second innings, I tried to play with discipline and caution and somewhat redeemed my approach of first knock."

Hussey was at the non-striker's end when he saw Ishant Sharma bowl that splendid spell to Ricky Ponting on the fourth morning.

"He obviously is a very fine bowler, disciplined and aggressive. There was a certain uneven bounce on the off-stump and he obviously was bowling a lot better to right-handers than left-handers. In that over, who knows if I was on strike, he might not have got that extra over.

"These are a few little things which can decide the course of a match," he said.

Hussey denied that his side would struggle to come to terms with the defeat of WACA in time for the final game.

"Losing is a part of sport. I made 145 not out in Sydney and then was out for a duck in the first knock in Perth. Sports can be like that sometimes.

"We would have no trouble in coming to terms with the Perth defeat. It's not the end of the world. The boys are pretty determined to put that all behind in Adelaide," he said.

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Will Australia retrun back to cheating ways ?
by khalihan on 2008-01-21 21:37:13.983009+05:30
Australians claim that they play hard, aggressive cricket. What we saw in Sydney was an unfair cheating and manipulated Umpiring. After returning to fair ways, Australians lost. This puts a big question mark on the credibility of their previous wins. Also, this goes to prove that on a fair ground they are not that tough a side as they claim to be. Only India has the gut and muscle to challenge and check their unfair ways. We know for sure Australians don't like that.
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Arvindra
by Arvindra on 2008-01-21 19:49:25.881622+05:30

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Steve Bucknor and Umpirint
by Jawahar Chirimar on 2008-01-21 18:53:10.05701+05:30
A full fledged investigation should be done in Steve Bucknor's motives ranging from:FinanceCultural BiasRacist TendenciesPure IncompetenceFurther why should umpires not use technology much more?
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Australia and cricket
by Jawahar Chirimar on 2008-01-21 18:50:57.344314+05:30
The Australian team has spoiled the spirit of cricket and the fans and the team there have exhibited racist behavior repeatedly.The rest of the cricketing world should boycott them till they and their racist fans learn how to behave.
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India toughest.
by Subhod on 2008-01-21 18:18:44.192741+05:30
Without Buckner - Benson, australia lost the match, imagine what would would have happened at Sydney if both the umpires were not officiating, shall we say 2-1 India?
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