Michael Hussey is a world-class batsman from Australia. The left-hander batsman represented his nation in all the three formats of the game and was quite successful in all of them. Also known as ‘Mr. Cricket’, he played 79 tests and scored over 6,000 runs, including 19 centuries and 29 half-centuries. Here, we will have a look at the top ten test knocks by the veteran batsman.
1. 133 Vs Srilanka
The knock which ranks 10th in this list is Hussey’s knock of 133 runs against Srilanka at Brisbane in November, 2007. He faced 249 balls in the first innings to get to this score. He hit 13 boundaries and a couple of sixes to achieve this feat, striking at a rate of above 50. Australia won the match by an innings and 40 runs.
2. 133* Vs West Indies
Hussey’s second test century came against the West Indies in November, 2005 at the famous Adelaide Oval. In reply to West Indies’ first innings total of 405, Australia went off to a smooth start. When the hosts lost Justin Langer at 228/3, Hussey came out to bat. He played an excellent knock of 133 runs off 215 balls. This innings comprised 13 fours and 3 sixes, as he scored at a strike-rate of above 60. His unbeaten knock propelled the Aussies to a first-innings lead and helped them eventually win the match by seven wickets.
3. 134* Vs Pakistan
Hussey scored yet another test ton, this time against Pakistan in January, 2010 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. After getting bundled out for a meager total of 127 in the first innings, Australia fought back in the second. Hussey was the top-scorer in the Aussie batting lineup, scoring an unbeaten 134 off 284 balls. He smashed the ball to the fence sixteen times in his innings. His excellent batting display propelled the hosts to a 36-run victory and quite naturally, he also claimed the Man of the Match award.
4. 137 Vs West Indies
Hussey’s maiden test century came against the West Indies in the second test on November, 2005. He opened the batting and faced 234 balls to reach this landmark, scoring 19 boundaries. He remained the top-scorer in the match and hence, got the Man of the Match award as well. Australia won the match comfortably by 9 wickets.
5. 142 Vs Srilanka
The veteran left-hander scored yet another test century, this time on Asian soil in September, 2011. Facing 244 balls, he scored 142 runs and struck 16 boundaries in his innings. Once again, he remained the top-scorer of the match. Though the match at Kandy ended in a draw, Mike Hussey’s brilliant batting earned him the Man of the Match award.
6. 145* Vs India
In the second test of the 2007-08 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Michael Hussey scored his 8th test century, his first against India. He scored an unbeaten knock of 145 off 259 balls, scoring 16 boundaries in the innings. His contribution, along with Hayden’s century helped the Aussies post a huge total of 401 in their second innings. A poor batting display from India in their second innings ensured that the hosts won the match by 122 runs. This stunning knock from the left-hander ranks 5th in this list.
7. 146 Vs India
In the same year, Hussey scored his second test century against India in the first match of the 2008 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Bangalore. He played a total of 276 balls in that innings, before falling prey to Zaheer Khan, just four runs short of his 150. He had a strike-rate of above 50 as he smashed 15 boundaries and even a six in this knock. Both the teams played equally well in that match, which resulted in a draw.
8. 150* Vs India
Hussey’s love story with India continued as he smashed another test ton against the Asian giants in the third test of the 2011-12 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the SCG. It was his third test century against India and his 16th overall. In reply to India’s first innings total of just 191, Australia were in a state of bother at one point of time when they lost three quick wickets. Another wicket brought Mr. Cricket to the crease, who played yet another calm and composed knock. He remained unbeaten on 150 at the end of their innings, after facing 253 balls, hitting 16 fours and a six. Australia posted a mammoth 659 runs in their first innings, which helped them beat their opponent by an innings and 68 runs.
9. 182 Vs Bangladesh
Hussey’s fourth test ton came against Bangladesh in the second test of Australia’s tour of Bangladesh in April, 2006 at Chittagong. In reply to Bangladesh’s first innings total of just 197, the Australian innings started pretty well. Jason Gillespie scored an unbeaten 201 while Mike Hussey contributed 182 runs. Hussey’s knock came in just 203 balls, including 21 fours and 4 sixes. He played quite flawlessly that day and had a strike rate of about 89. The huge first-innings lead helped the visitors eventually win the match by an innings and 80 runs. Hussey’s brilliant batting ranks 2nd in this list.
10. 195 Vs England
The best test knock Mike Hussey ever played was against arch-rivals England in the first test of the 2010-11 Ashes series at Brisbane. In Australia’s first innings, Hussey scored this total in 330 balls, before being dismissed by Steve Finn, just 5 runs away from what could have been his maiden double-century in test. He smashed the ball to the boundary 26 times and even hit a six in his innings, striking at around 59. England also responded brilliantly and the match eventually ended in a draw.
