Haddin a Ball - Day Three at Brisbane

There are eighteen people in our Ashes competion. Eighteen people with six selections each. And none of them have selected Mike Hussey.

Hussey’s innings has shown the fine margins between success and failure in cricket. Had his first ball edge flown six inches further the knives would have been out and his career hanging by a thread. Had the umpiring, and the UDRS, been less kind then he would have saved his place but the doubts would still be lingering. As it is, he can look forward to the rest of the series at the very least.

Much will be made of the twin LBW decisions that shaped his innings, but this would be a little unfair – it is one things to be given a life but quite another to take full advantage. At his best, no-one picks the length of spinners better and he was quick to rock back and pull Graeme Swann whenever the opportunity presented itself. As with any Hussey innings it didn’t really impose itself on the memory as might have been the case with other, more flamboyant, players, but it was a magnificent knock and surely no-one would have begrudged him his double century.

Yesterday I observed how intelligently Brad Haddin had batted when Australia were in trouble, and this continued through a dificult first hour. Once he had settled, however, his range of stroke impressed and, although his wicket keeping still leaves a lot to be desired, it was easy to see why the selectors had reverted to him at the expense of Tim Paine.

As for England, they will have days when they bowl worse than that and bowl sides out. Anderson’s figures, in particular, were scant reward for some fine spells and Finn, although six wickets may have flattered him, is a terrific prospect. In recent years a score of 481 for Australia would have been an indication of complete dominance but on this occasion it is considerably easier for England fans to be optimistic.

That said, it is difficult to see England saving this game now. The batting has been brittle for a while and batting for a day and a half, which is what is required, seems unlikely. That said, it was very important that Strauss and Cook made it through the final session without being parted and they have, at least, managed that. If England do escape with a draw then the parallels to Cardiff may give them heart.