Hussey lives the dream

Mike Hussey admits he is still in awe of players such as Glenn McGrath © Getty Images

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Mike Hussey is determined to savour every moment of the final Test in Sydney and his last opportunity to enjoy playing in Australia’s star-studded line-up before it begins to break up.

The left-hander remains as star-struck as a wide-eyed youngster at being a part of a team that have won 11 successive Tests and are just one victory away from becoming only the second team in history to record an Ashes whitewash.

Despite playing 15 Tests since becoming the first beneficiary of Australia’s shock Ashes series defeat last year, 31-year-old Hussey still exudes the excitement of a youngster who has just come into the side.

That feeling increased further over the last few days as the countdown began for one of the biggest farewell parties in living memory, with Australia preparing to salute legendary pair Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne when their glittering Test careers end at the SCG.

“For me personally it’s just a great honour to be on the same field as these legends of the game,” said Hussey, who had to wait until he was 30 to make his Test debut.

“I have been playing cricket for a long time at first-class level and I was desperate to play Test cricket alongside the likes of Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor, in particular.

“I never got that opportunity so just to have the opportunity to play Test cricket with these guys on the field rather than looking for the boundary is an honour and a privilege.

“I’m just in awe at the way they go about their work and the way they go about executing their plans and their skills.

“They are fantastically skilled cricketers and should be remembered as some of the greatest players ever to play the game, in my opinion.”

Hussey owes much to the timely advice of Shane Warne

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Hussey is particularly grateful to legendary leg-spinner Warne, who put him at ease after a less than convincing debut last year.

Brought into the side in the aftermath of the Ashes defeat in England, Hussey scored one and 29 against West Indies at Brisbane, but was reassured by Warne and went on to score centuries in the next two Tests.

Since then he has barely looked back and now boasts an average of 82, having scored five hundreds and a further eight half-centuries.

“I’ve had a couple of really good moments with Shane Warne,” admitted Hussey.

“It’s no secret I didn’t handle my first Test very well at all but he pulled me aside and told me I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone.

“He told me I was good enough to be there and said they all thought I was good enough to be there.

“That was a great thing for him to say to me because as a new player you’re always ready to prove something to your team-mates, yourself and the rest of the world.

Hussey marvels at Ricky Ponting's passion for Australia

“For someone like Shane Warne, who I didn’t know very well, to say something like that was really meaningful to me.”

Warne is by no means the only player Hussey has relished playing alongside in the past 15 months, during which he has grown to appreciate the talents of the current Australia side.

“Being at the other end when I’m batting to guys like Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer of Matthew Hayden is just the best place to watch them go about their work,” Hussey enthused.

“For guys who have played so much cricket, their passion for playing for that baggy green cap has not waned one little bit.

“I would have loved to have played for Australia earlier but I’m just privileged to have the opportunity to play with these guys.

“There are millions of people around the world who would love to see how these guys go about their cricket and I’m lucky enough to have that opportunity.”