Hussain basks in solitude to seize his opportunity (19 January 1999)

19 January 1999

Hussain basks in solitude to seize his opportunity

By Paul Newman in Melbourne

NASSER Hussain looked to have no chance of playing in the World Cup when he was left out of the initial England party for the triangular one-day series against Australia and Sri Lanka. Now, however, he has gone a long way towards securing what could be the last available batting place in this summer's squad.

Hussain, the top English run scorer in the Ashes series, is probably only here now because of injury to Graham Thorpe and was left out of the first two one-day matches in Brisbane as England continued to experiment with bits and pieces players rather than specialists. Once given his chance he cashed in, scoring 47 and 93 in the last two games, the latter his first one-day international score in excess of 50 and a perfect answer to those who felt he could not adapt to the different demands of modern 50-over cricket.

"I've not excelled in one-day cricket for England but I've not often had the chance to bat in the top four," said the Test vice-captain.

"It's not easy to get in the side when you have pinch hitters and all-rounders but on Sunday we went the more conventional route and it worked. The key is to remain flexible, but you always need at least one batsman to make a big score to win a one-dayer."

The new Essex captain has had little difficulty carrying on his prolific Ashes form in the one-day arena. In Sunday's seven-run win over Australia, he kept pace with century maker Graeme Hick in a third-wicket partnership of 190 that earned England their third win in four Carlton & United Series games.

"You have your aggressive players like Hick, Knight and Stewart and then you have others in one-day cricket like Thorpe and Fairbrother who work it around and go for the big hits towards the end," said Hussain after England's flight from Sydney to Melbourne. "I consider myself somewhere between the two and I certainly think I've got a role to play in one-day cricket. I'm not going to start booking my World Cup ticket on the back of two scores and the first priority is to win this tournament because it's an important one."

Whether Hussain had the chance to build on his success in today's match against Sri Lanka at the MCG was debatable yesterday as he was nursing flu symptoms and a twinge in the groin area where he had a major operation before this tour. Alec Stewart is expected to carry on wicketkeeping despite bruising his right thumb in Sydney on Sunday.

David Lloyd, the England coach, talked yesterday in terms of Hussain having a solitary build-up to matches which maybe why he has sometimes been misinterpreted as a loner.

Hussain's standing within the England set-up has been greatly enhanced on his first tour of Australia and he remains favourite to become the next Test captain whenever Stewart is replaced.

"It's a team game but when you go out to bat you're on your own so you have to prepare as properly as you can," said Hussain. "For me that means concentrating on technique, mental readiness and fitness. Yes, I watch videos of bowlers I'm going to face and walk out into the middle on my own to visualise the Test ahead but that's solely because you have to take individual responsibility."

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)