27 November,2010 06:43 AM IST | | AFP
Michael Hussey says he is emerging from a period of self-doubt in his batting as he led an Australian recovery on the second day of the Ashes opener against England at the Gabba yesterday. The experienced left-hander fought his way to an unbeaten 81 when rain forced play to be abandoned late in the day with Australia at 220 for five and trailing England by 35 runs.
"Even with that first one (ball) I was hoping and praying that it was going to fall short and thankfully it did, a foot more and I would have been gone for a first-ball duck as it turns out I'm still there at stumps."
"I have tried to stick to what I know has worked for me but I don't think my game has changed along the way," he said.
"It's a time where my mind is a lot clearer and maybe I am seeing the ball clearer out of the bowler's hand. Whereas, other times in the last couple of years there's been doubts or negative thoughts going through my mind and it stops you playing what the same kind of freedom.
"It's probably through experience knowing that you've done it before and believing that you can do again."
Hussey is a key member of Australia's batting lineup and has scored over 4,100 runs at an average of a tick over 50. Hussey said he felt he deserved to be selected despite calls for him to be dumped for younger rivals
