India-Pakistan match is not the be all and end all: Michael Hussey

It feels odd to associate the word 'retired' with you. A couple of months ago, you smashed a 60-ball 96 for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League...
I am a retired international cricketer, but I still enjoy playing in Twenty20 tournaments like the Big Bash League and obviously the Indian Premier League. I still feel I enjoy the contest in the middle. I still feel I can mix with the best players from around the world. I still feel fit. And I will continue to play as long as I feel I can contribute.

There is a notion that ODI cricket has become boring and predictable and uncomfortably sandwiched between Test cricket and Twenty20. How significant, then, is the World Cup for the sustenance of the 50-over game?
I think it's going to be a fantastic World Cup. Hopefully it showcases how good the 50-over game can be. That's because I know the players thoroughly enjoy playing it. I also know from the cricket boards' perspective that they, too, are keen to make it a success because they can make a lot of money from the tournament. I think those two ingredients mean they will be a future for the 50-over game. The powerplays, fielding restrictions, two new white balls make it as attractive as possible. I know from the players' point of view that it's a great format. They love playing it. It caters to a whole different range of players. It's a format which gives you the opportunity to let the game flow a bit more. You might be in trouble, but you can very well fight your way out of it and get back into a position of strength again. So, I hope ODI cricket thrives.

The ICC flirted with the idea of a 10-team tournament before the Associates eventually had their way. But the downside of this format is that a significant per cent of the 42 pool matches will end up being one-sided affairs. That apart, it paves the way for the top eight teams to cruise into the quarterfinals...
I don't think so. I think there is enough history to suggest that you can't take any team for granted. India and Pakistan didn't make it past the first round at the 2007 World Cup. So, the more developing teams will be more and more determined to play well. There always seem to be a few surprises along the way. We want to see the best teams go through (to the knockouts). And they will get every opportunity to do so, which is a good thing. But you cant write off the more developing teams. They have some very good players and they play well as a team.

You were 17 when Australia and New Zealand hosted the tournament in 1992. What are your memories?
I remember quite a few things, actually. I remember the Pakistan-England final. I watched it on TV, but I recall the amazing atmosphere at the MCG. I remember New Zealand played some great cricket throughout the tournament. They opened the bowling with a spinner, Dipak Patel. The ploy surprised a lot of teams. I remember Australia battling a little bit. Our team didn't have the best tournament, and it was frustrating. But I really enjoyed watching the tournament.

India have spent more than two months in Australia. And they have managed to remain winless all along. How do you see them faring in the tournament?
I still think they have a chance. The advantage is that they have been here for two months. So they should know the conditions. They have had a great chance to acclimatise to the pitches, the weather, the crowd, the huge outfields. They can use all that information to their advantage at the World Cup. They have got to stay fresh. It's a long tournament, but they have some world-class players. And if they all fire, India can be right up there.

How do you view India's first match?
It's important to start well. Having said that, it's not the be all and end all. I know there's no love lost between India and Pakistan and it's going to be a huge game. But whoever loses must know it's not the end of the world. But it's always nice to get off to a positive winning start.

There has been a lot of debate over sledging in the game. We saw the Australians and Indians have a go at each other during the Test series. Can't the game do without verbal duels?
Well, it's difficult to say. It's obviously an emotional and passionate game. When you get out there in the middle, things get said. Personally, I have sledged twice in my life. The first guy got a 150 and the other made a double hundred. So, I never ever sledged anybody after that (laughs). I stopped doing it a very young age. But I don't don't have any problem with sledging as long as it doesn't go over the top. You shouldn't say things that are personal. It's just not on. But a bit of banter and a bit of chatting is fine.

How were those days with your brother David in the backyard?
There was more than just sledging (laughs). There was fighting, punch-ups and the whole thing, you know. We would have been banned for life, you know!

How do you see Australia shaping up?
Australia have got a great chance. They have the skill and talent to go all the way. The biggest challenge for them will be to handle the external pressures — that of hosting the event and the crowds expecting you to win. We have players who haven't played in a World Cup before. So, they will have to learn to handle that extra pressure. If they can handle it, they can go all the way.

You have played a lot of cricket with MS Dhoni. How do you think he manages to stay so cool? Have you ever seen him lose it?
I really don't know how he does it! It's difficult to maintain your cool especially in a cricket-mad country like India. He is very relaxed, very calm. He doesn't get flustered. I think that calmness can rub off on his teammates. MS is very calculative; he has a very good cricket brain. All these ingredients make him a great captain. I have seen him get a bit angry a couple of times (during the IPL). But he doesn't get aggressive or anything like that. You can sense that he is angry, but he never tries to show it. That calmness never leaves him.

What is the impact T20 has had on the other formats?
I think you are seeing scoring rates increase all the time in one-day cricket. When I started watching ODI cricket, 200 was great score. Then it became 250-270. Now, even even 300 is not enough. You are seeing the scores getting bigger all the time. You are seeing the bowlers come up with new deliveries and the batsmen are improvising. There are different field placings. I can that that Twenty20 has probably improved the standard of the game to a degree that it has helped batsmen and bowlers deal with the pressure in the other formats. I think it's had a positive effect on the game so far.

Do you see anyone scoring a 300 in ODI cricket?
It will happen one day, but I don't know how soon. Had AB de Villiers come in a bit earlier in that game at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, he might have gone there himself!

Unlike India, which is now familiar territory for most players thanks to the IPL, the conditions in Australia and New Zealand are largely foreign for most visiting teams. How much of an advantage, then, will the host nations and, say, South Africa enjoy?
The conditions will be very good. Normally, we have flat pitches for ODI cricket. We have pretty high-scoring grounds. I cant really speak for New Zealand as much. Generally, their pitches are low and slow. Also, their grounds are quite slow. The subcontinental teams should do quite well there. In Australia, pace and bounce will be a factor. And there will be a lot more running, bigger throws from the deep. That's why Australia is such a tough place to come to because most of our grounds are quite different from each other. The WACA in Perth is different from the Sydney Cricket Ground which, in turn, is different from Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. So, every team that comes here has to adjust to a new set of conditions every time. But, I think, the conditions will be pretty conducive this time. You will see good one-day cricket.

The 1992 World Cup gave us coloured clothing, Mark Greatbatch and Dipak Patel. What do you think 2015 has in store?
You will see some very good scores (individual and team). You will probably see a lot of those new Twenty20 shots being played — like the sweeps and flicks. You will see slow-ball bouncers, wide yorkers. But at the end of the day, I actually believe that the team which does its basics really, really well will come out on top.

Will you be part of the IPL auction?
Yes, I am hoping to be there. I still feel I am playing well. I feel I can contribute. So, yes, I am available.

What is the ideal team combination?
Well, I think it's important to have aggressive opening batsmen who can take advantage of the powerplays up front. You have got to have a nice combination of power and good runners between the wickets. You need some good players of spin and some power hitters to finish off the innings. You need some good fast bowlers, some good pace bowlers. I am not sure if spin will play as big a part in the tournament as it has in the past. Your bowlers some are very skilled, whether they are pacers or spinners. But the key is to have good, strong fast bowlers.

Could you name the five players to watch out for?
That's a tough one. But I'll go with Hashim Amla, Mitchell Starc, Kane Williamson, AB de Villiers and Mitchell Johnson.

And the semifinal line-up?
It's very difficult to say that now but I'll say Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. And you can fight for that last spot. I guess I'll go with Sri Lanka.