Harking back to my post about the rankings - Michael Hussey:
Hussey dismisses Test rankings
"I don't think we're the fifth best team in the world, I don't think that's a true reflection of our team, we're definitely better than that."
"With the new Test championship coming in that will probably give a better indication of where teams are at, and a better understanding of where teams are ranked."
"I don't think about being fifth best team in the world, I don't necessarily agree with that."
Funnily enough, if the Test championship was introduced now Australia would not qualify as it will be contested by the top four sides. Fortunately it will be introduced in 2013, giving Australia time to climb back into the upper half of Test-playing nations.
"We need to get up to make sure we're fourth to get into that. "We've got a couple of years to continue the curve of getting better every time. I think our team is getting better all the time."
"I have a strong belief in the personnel we've got, and the plans and processes we've put in place, that if we stick to what we know and don't get affected too much by the outside influences we've got a great chance to play some excellent Test cricket in the next year."
"I can take a lot of confidence from that, I feel like I'm playing well inside myself. Particularly in the last three matches I've been a bit unlucky, but that's the game."
Hussey might be kidding himself about the rankings; he might be kidding himself about how good Australia is; he might be kidding himself about "playing well inside myself" but being "a bit unlucky" (hint of the Greg Chappells there); he is obviously taking the piss when he mentions "curves getting better" and "plans and processes"; and he is certainly kidding himself if he reckons he will be there in a couple of years.
Is he delusional?
Posted by: nick | Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Well, every side above us hasn't beaten us at home apart from SA and we beat them away, so technically he's right.
However, deep down , we all know he's wrong.
Posted by: Hewy | Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 03:34 PM
How many times did he say the same thing in the first three paragraphs? I count five.
Posted by: Big Ramifications | Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 03:38 PM
It's called professional optimism. Trouble is, the more you repeat something, the less you, you are believed.
Posted by: Tony | Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 03:47 PM
Oh how we've fallen. 'We need to get up to make sure we're fourth to get into that." There's an aim for you.
Marcus North used to trot out the same line about the Warriors getting better all the time the last 2 seasons. Which I guess they were, apart from their catching. And the bowling. And there was still a few issues with the batting but apart from that, it was all hunky dory.
Very much like the Aussies.
Posted by: Lou | Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 12:34 AM
When he mentions outside influences not affecting them, does he mean being beaten by other teams, do you think? I'm not sure he had any idea what he was saying by the end of the interview.
Posted by: Lou | Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 12:37 AM
I think he means media speculation about him being dropped. Meaning either:
a) the media has been getting to him, and its entirely their fault he's averaged less than 40 for the past three years, or
b) the media has had no effect on him, but get off his back or he'll average 30 this summer (again)
Posted by: Russ | Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 08:09 AM
Anybody read the articles about Chappell and the 'aging' line-up?
Posted by: Lou | Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 10:50 PM
Just read it.
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 11:47 AM