Mr Cricket by Michael Hussey

Lanka and his first Test match at the Gabba, though I was a little bleary-eyed watching from my hotel room in Durban where we were playing against South Africa in a one-day series. I was back home in Christchurch when he played his second Test and to hear those shouts of delight when he made that maiden Test century was wonderful. Ironically, Matthew Hayden was at the other end to share the moment with him and, for me, having coached both players, it was a pretty special moment.
    Mike and I stay in contact quite a lot these days. Our wives, Julie and Amy, became good friends and we’ve all shared many laughs over the past few years. Mike and Amy are both caring people and are always prepared to give you their time. When we were living in Northampton, Mike would play football and cricket for hours with my son Leo in our back garden. The ball would be kicked or hit over into the next yard and without even thinking Mike would jump the eight foot-high fence with ease to retrieve the ball from the next door neighbour’s house.
    It’s been a pleasure working with Mike and I look forward to enjoying the rest of his career. He is a brilliant batsman. In three seasons of county cricket for Northamptonshire he scored just under 8000 runs, not a bad return at all, especially given he was also captain through some difficult team issues and managed to lead the club to a double promotion in 2003. All of these different experiences have steeled him for the rigours of international cricket and the fact that he has had leadership experience can only help him in his quest to become one of the world’s best cricketers.
    On December 10, 2005, coincidentally my son Leo’s 10th birthday, we played against Australia at Jade Stadium in Christchurch in the Chappell-Hadlee one-day series. Mike had come over for dinner the night before and as usual we were having a few laughs and talking about the game the next day. Leo told Mike to hit him a catch up in the stands. Well, Mike hit quite a few sixes on his way to an amazing 88 runs from not many balls. His innings was only to be matched by a great win for the Blackcaps. Later that evening I took Leo into the Australian team press conference where Mike was sitting with Ricky Ponting being interviewed about the game. As we entered, Mike waved to Leo and later when leaving the room he gave Leo his tour cap. My son walked out of that room feeling 10-feet tall. Thank you, Mike.
    MOST FIRST-CLASS TRIPLE CENTURIES SCORED BY AN AUSTRALIAN
    DONALD BRADMAN
452*
NEW SOUTH WALES V QUENSLAND, SYDNEY 1929–30
369
SOUTH AUSTRALIA V TASMANIA, ADELAIDE 1935–6
357
SOUTH AUSTRALIA V VICTORIA, MELBOURNE 1935–6
340*
NEW SOUTH WALES V VICTORIA, SYDNEY 1928–9
334
AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND, LEEDS 1930
304
AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND, LEEDS 1934
    BILL PONSFORD
437
VICTORIA V QUENSLAND, MELBOURNE 1927–8
429
VICTORIA V TASMANIA, MELBOURNE 1922–3
352
VICTORIA V NSW, MELBOURNE 1935–6
336
VICTORIA V SOUTH AUSTRALIA, MELBOURNE 1927–8
    MICHAEL HUSSEY
331*
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V SOMERSET, TAUNTON 2003
329*
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V ESSEX, NORTHAMPTON 2001
310*
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V GLOUCESTERSHIRE, BRISTOL 2002
    The final straw came during a one-day match on a freezing cold day at Gloucestershire. I was facing the Australian Ian Harvey, their overseas player, and went to flick one down the leg side. It hit the back side of my thigh pad, went back on a dodgy angle and bowled me. It was a very unlucky dismissal, but I was so upset with myself. I sat next to Bob afterwards and apologised. ‘You must think I’m the worst overseas player you’ve ever had,’ I said. But, far from getting angry or trying to rev me up, Bob just sat back and calmly said, ‘Not at all. We’ve got another game in a couple of days, against Warwickshire back at home. When you bat in that game I want you to go out there and throw caution to the wind. Go out there and have fun. You can’t go any worse, so you