Daily Cricket News

Sachin inspires to keep going: Hussey

Perth: Australia batsman Mike Hussey is taking inspiration from India's Sachin Tendulkar and has no plans to retire from cricket.

Hussey's place in Australia's Test side has come under increasing pressure, with just two centuries since the start of 2009 spurring talk that the 35-year-old should be phased out of the team.

But after watching 37-year-old Tendulkar scored his sixth double century and take his career tally past 14,000 runs in a 2-0 India Test series win over Australia, Hussey said "it does give you a bit of inspiration."

Tendulkar scored 214 in the first innings of the second Test — his 49th Test century — and took his series aggregate to 403 runs, at an average of 134.5.

Hussey said he was also encouraged by the late career performances of fellow Australian players.

"Steve Waugh played quite late into his 30s, Matthew Hayden played very well, Justin Langer played very well into his late 30s. So I don't think age is a barrier whatsoever," Hussey told AustralianAssociated Press.

"It's about whether you're up for the battle, you're enjoying the challenge out in the middle."

Hussey will make a rare appearance for Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield state game against South Australia, starting Friday at Adelaide Oval, and the November 17-20 match against Victoria in Melbourne.

The left-hander, who in between will play for Australia in the three-match one-day series against Sri Lanka, said the domestic games were vital for his Ashes preparation.

The first of five Ashes Tests against England begins on November 25 in Brisbane.