Veteran batsman Mike Hussey has denied he is stuck in a form slump heading into the Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG.
Hussey excelled in September's three-Test series against Sri Lanka - amassing a prolific 463 runs at an average of 92.60 - before striking a lean patch away to South Africa and at home against New Zealand.
However, the left-hander said he was confident he would be in top form to face world number two India next week and was working hard to ensure he made it through the tricky early part of his innings.
"I feel like I'm in a good place mentally," said Hussey, who has made just 83 runs in his last seven Test innings.
"I feel like I'm batting well in the nets.
"It just goes with batting. You just sometimes need a little bit of luck early in your innings and you can go on and get a big score.
Hussey described his modest figures leading up to the Indian series as "just the way the game goes".
"We had some tough conditions to bat in in South Africa so you needed a little bit of luck to get through there," he said.
"Certainly the first couple of pitches here in Australia have been hard work for the batters as well and I haven't been able to get through that initial period."
But he said he had been concentrating on ensuring he could settle in properly when at the crease.
"That's definitely been the focus for me, to definitely work hard early in my innings and in my training - about being really tight and tough early in my net sessions.
"If you can just get through that initial period then it does get a lot easier after that," Hussey said.
Hussey also said that fellow veteran and former skipper Ricky Ponting deserved to be part of the 13-man squad despite accusations he is past his best.
"His (Ponting's) attitude around the team has been fantastic," Hussey said.
"He got a couple of really good starts in the last series and I'm sure there are a few big scores just around the corner."
Hussey said the Indians would provide very stiff opposition despite failing to win a Test series in Australia in nine attempts over 64 years.
"I think they've got a very experienced batting order. Most of their players have played here in Australia before," he said.
"They're all class players and we're going to have to bowl extremely well to get on top of them and keep them under pressure for long periods."
In Friday morning's practice session, fast bowlers Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Starc did their best to impress the selectors before the final XI is announced.
"I'm not sure which way the selectors are going to go but I faced both those guys this morning and I thought they both bowled really well," Hussey said.
"I know (captain) Michael Clarke was watching the nets very closely today as well, so there's plenty of motivation for all the guys, whether you're a batsman or a bowler."
AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, australia, vic, melbourne-3000 First posted December 23, 2011 18:53:31
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