When Mike Hussey earned his Baggy Green in 2005, it was the culmination of years of dedication.
Those unfamiliar with the journey of Hussey may assume that moment would have arrived when ‘Mr Cricket’ was in his early 20s, but his first Test match for Australia came after his 30th birthday.
Hussey’s State / First-Class Career
When you look at the depth of batters Australia had at their disposal during Hussey’s early domestic career, it becomes easier to understand why it took so long to break down the door.
The likes of Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden were at the top of the pecking order.
During that time, Hussey plied his trade for various teams, including Western Australia (where he hails from) and English county teams like Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire.
Representing the Australian ODI Team
In 2004, at the age of 28, Hussey first played white-ball cricket for the Australia team against India.
With Ponting and Michael Bevan rested, Hussey got the call-up, ready to showcase his talent on the big stage.
Playing at the WACA in his home state of WA and batting seventh, he scored 17 not out, helping his team get over the line alongside friend Simon Katich.
It would take over a year for his second cap; from there, he strung together a run of games, becoming a regular for his nation in the 50-over format.
Breaking Into the Test Side at 30
In November 2005, Hussey first donned the test kit of Australia against the West Indies.
After a poor first game, which saw him hit a single and 29 in the respective innings, he found his rhythm, hitting centuries in his next two matches against the Windies, before scoring another ton in his fifth match vs South Africa.
The dream of becoming a Test cricketer had been achieved, and Hussey showed his class in what turned out to be a remarkable career.
What Hussey Achieved as an Australian Cricketer
Hussey’s achievements are remarkable, not only in terms of his individual records but also in the trophies the team won during his career.
Over 79 Tests, he hit 19 centuries with a batting average of over 51, similar to his average of 48 in ODIs. In red-ball cricket, he amassed 6,235 runs and hit 5,442 in the one-day format.
These runs helped Australia win the 2006/07 Ashes series- Hussey hit an impressive ton at the WACA in the third Test- and two ICC Champions Trophy wins (2006 and 2009), with the 2007 World Cup in between.
Hussey fondly recalled the glory days: “Those first couple of years, I felt like I was in a dream. I was just praying I didn’t wake up and find out none of it was happening.”
While the 2010/11 Ashes is remembered much more fondly by England than their old enemy, it was in this series that Hussey enjoyed his greatest ever innings, hitting 195 at the Gabba.
When talking about turning up very late to the table, he said in jest, “I’ve thought about it a lot. I’d probably be about 5,000 runs past Sachin Tendulkar, the leading run-scorer in the game. Most centuries, most wins, most Ashes Wins, and the most World Cup wins, probably all those things.”
While a joke, it does make you wonder the tally he’d have reached if he played earlier. But then again, maybe his time came at the right time for him to achieve the success he did, as a highly experienced cricketer.
Hussey himself said;
“I’d been through so much, I knew my game inside and out by the time I got to play international cricket.”
A phenomenal career, and a reminder that you don’t need to peak early to leave a legacy behind as one of the best of your era.