Hussey misses out on test place

By Jon Steer
March 2 2005

Despite strong performances in the one day series, Mike Hussey has not been selected for the test series. The sixth batting place will instead be contested by Brad Hodge and Simon Katich, both of who made the thirteen strong squad named this morning.

Hussey will take some comfort in the fact that the selectors opted to go for the smaller than usual squad due to the close proximity of the two countries. When the ashes squad for the the Summer series is named it will be much larger and again Hussey will be a strong contender for a place, especially if Hodge and Katich fail to impress over the next three weeks.

Brad Hodge was chosen on the strength of his Pura cup performances this season, he has scored 735 runs at an average of over 60. Hodge was selected for Australias recent tour of India but didn't make the starting eleven in any of the tests.

Most of Hussey's first class cricket has been as an opener and this may also have been a factor in the selectors' decision.

The move should mean that Hussey is available for the full pre-season tour of UAE, we will have to wait and see whether he will be missing later in the Summer.