Warne barbs lifted Hussey

Michael Hussey used Shane Warne's criticism of his batting to drive him to the match-winning century against Pakistan in Sydney. Hussey, who stole the game with his unbeaten hundred in the second innings, had heard the calls for his sacking towards the end of the West Indies series before fighting back with 82, 4, 28 and 134 not out in the past two matches.

"It's hard when someone of the ilk of Shane Warne is criticising you, because he's obviously played a lot of cricket and he knows his stuff pretty well," Hussey said in the Sunday Herald Sun. "So it was pretty motivating to try to prove him wrong."

Warne has since downgraded his stance and Hussey said it was great to show up the critics. "Just to prove to him and to everyone that I still can play at Test match level, it's the most satisfying feeling you can get, especially after you copped a lot of criticism over the course of the summer," he said.

Hussey put on 123 with Peter Siddle for the ninth wicket to give Australia a 175-run lead and the 2-0 series success was sealed when Pakistan were dismissed for 139. Despite the century, which was his first at home in two years, Hussey said he would have to continue to perform consistently to stay on track for next summer's Ashes.

"While you're enjoying the challenge of the battle of Test cricket and while you're contributing, then I'd love to keep continuing as long as I could," he said. "Certainly at the moment I still feel like I want that battle."