Michael Hussey calls for Chris Rogers to remain as Australian Test opener
Date
November 22, 2014 - 2:00PM
Daniel Lane
Sports reporter & Video journalist
Michael Hussey made an impassioned plea for besieged opener Chris Rogers to be retained in the Test team for next month's opening match against India in Brisbane, and pushed for Callum Ferguson to be Michael Clarke's replacement if the skipper was ruled out through injury.
Hussey, who retired from Test cricket after the 2013 new year match at the SCG, defended Rogers amid calls for him to be dropped after compiling scores of 38, 43, 5 and 2 during Australia's disastrous series loss to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
Rogers struck back with 107 for Victoria in their Sheffield Shield victory over South Australia during the week, and Hussey, who will captain the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League this summer, hoped the knock convinced the selectors to add to the 16 Tests the 37-year-old had already played when the team is announced on Monday.
"I hope they stick with Chris Rogers for three reasons," said Hussey. "He's had a great 12 months, OK, he had two ordinary Test matches, but anyone can; if they're looking towards [next year's Ashes tour of] England, he's played more in England than anyone else and he complements Davey Warner extremely well - they have a great opening partnership going there.
"I'm a big fan of Alex Doolan, but if Clarke's not fit I'd lean towards [South Australian] Callum Ferguson. He's been really consistent over the last three years, not just this season, although he's leading the Sheffield Shield runscorers' list this season.
"He's 30, and when he played for Australia in one-day cricket [between 2009 and 2011] he averaged over 41. I batted with him quite often and thought he did a fantastic job.
"People find excuses not to pick Callum Ferguson, they say he's scored his runs at Adelaide Oval, but he's scored eight of his 11 tons away from home.
"He's a very experienced player and he knows his cricket well. He's at a stage where he's at the top of his game and if Clarke isn't fit, Ferguson is ripe for the picking."
Hussey was as equally adamant that a long-term servant of the Aussie team, fast bowler Peter Siddle, deserved another shot in the baggy green cap despite calls for lanky NSW pace bowler Josh Hazlewood - who'd starred for the national one-day team in the series against South Africa - to be blooded.
Siddle, who captured 190 wickets in 55 Tests, took 5/31 for Victoria in their Sheffield Shield victory in Adelaide during the week and Hussey believed he'd done all he could to stave off the Hazlewood threat.
"I hope they stick with Siddle," he said. 'I'm so glad for him that he got five wickets because he's been a true champion for Australia over a long period of time. I think he deserves the chance to start in the role.
"If things don't go well for him in the first couple of Tests, and it's just my personal opinion, then they can obviously look to make changes from there.
"He's still a fine bowler and, yes, there's people knocking on the door. Hazlewood has been impressive, [Mitchell] Starc is an outstanding bowler and Nathan Coulter-Nile is a fine prospect ... but Peter Siddle is a champion and champions do come through for you."
Hussey opened his campaign for the Thunder at Drummoyne Oval on Thursday night when he played for the franchise's Academy team against their Sydney Sixers counterparts in a Triforce Super T20 Cup match.
While dismissed for a disappointing six runs in the 31-run loss, Hussey said it was beneficial for him to mix with his team's next generation of players.
"There's some very good prospects there and I'm at least in a position where I'll be able to put a face to the name and know what they can do when people talk about them," he said.
While the Thunder had recruited a formidable-looking squad with the likes of South Africa great Jacques Kallis, pace bowler Pat Cummins, England's Eoin Morgan and Nathan Hauritz from Brisbane, Hussey believed he'd put a stronger imprint on the franchise in his second-year as it's captain.
"I feel I'll be better [as skipper] the second-year round," he said. "I feel I know everyone better, I know what they can do and I know how the system works.
"I might even be harder on the boys because I feel I know them better. Last season I wanted to get to know everyone and see how it worked and also - from my point of view - I hadn't captained for a while in T20 cricket so last season's experience will help."
