T20 WC: Aussie aggression will be on display against India, says Mike Hussey

Australian batsman Michael Hussey has said that his side will use its key strengths -- pace bowling and aggressive batting style -- when facing India in the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup on Friday.

Interacting with media on the sidelines of a practice session here, Hussey admitted that the Australians were under pressure to perform in the shortest format of the game, and would like nothing better than to have a win over India on Friday.

When asked whether pressure was building on him as he was getting close to the Indian players, he said: “I guess so. Coming into a very important stage of the tournament, and probably that first game is very crucial really. We can get off to a winning start, and probably … and have a great chance to reach the semi-finals. So, the first one against India is a massive game.

He also said that the Australians would have to adapt to whatever squad the Indians put on the field on September 28. He acknowledged that India had played very well against England about a week ago with seven batsmen and four bowlers, and described Harbhajan Singh as a very good spin bowler and a tough opponent.

“I am not sure which player they go for…. They have got quality players all way down the list. So, we gonna have to adapt pretty quickly. I do suspect that they will bowl the spin to us. If it is not the frontline spinners, may be the part timers can help a few overs as well. Yuvraj, Raina and Rohit Sharma can bowl some offies as well, even Sehwag can bowl. So, they have got a lot of options, and can get a over out of someone here and there. So, we gonna have to adapt pretty quickly and it’s going to be a tough challenge,” Hussey said.

Commenting on the Australian bowlers, Hussey said: “We don’t need to panic too much. It’s a natural Twenty-Twenty cricket. Batsmen have to take risks, on some days, those risks come off. And, when you have got someone like Chris Gayle in the batting order hitting the ball……, you only have to miss your target by millimeters. I think the bowlers have been doing a good job. All through the series in Pakistan and a start here, they have done a great job. It’s important that you know keep positive with them and they very clear are in what they are trying to achieve. They have been working very hard with George Bailey and the bowling coaches to make sure that they got very simple and clear plans."

He added: “If you want to win the tournament, you gonna beat everyone in every match. West Indies is extremely dangerous, England obviously the World Champions…..But we have got to beat the best teams to win the tournament."

On India's best batsman Virat Kohli, he said: “I am not exactly sure what our plans are gonna be for him, and I wouldn’t be revealing, that’s for sure. He is really playing well at the moment. Every batsman can miss out at some stage, and I certainly hope, it will be his day to miss out (on Friday).

On Harbhajan Singh, he said: "He is a class act, and he has been a class act for a long period of time. So, someway or the other…respect, but in T20, you got be aggressive as well, and try and put him under pressure. He did a fantastic job the other night, but hopefully we can play a little bit better than the English team."

He also said that David Warner and Shane Watson were crucial to Australia being put in a winning position against India.

“I think both players are crucial to our chances. If we get into…positive starts, then put the team into great position. The top three or four positions in the batting order is crucial to set the platform up for us, then we can bring in our hitters later on in the innings. So ..that’s certainly the plan," Hussey said.

On sehwag, he said: “I would never say Virender Sehwag is out of form, he can miss a couple of times. Every time he misses out, he is one step closer to a big score. And normally, he scores very quickly. So, I would never say Virender Sehwag is out of form."