One is a cricketing icon that the world celebrates, while the other, an icon nonetheless, had to wait for a decade or so to finally see the stardom and status he deserves. For a non-cricket person, Mr Cricket would certainly mean Sachin Tendulkar but a fan of the sport would know who has earned that title.
Only two years younger than the Master Blaster, Michael Hussey has very little in terms of records to match Tendulkar but their humility and cricketing intellect may be compared. Come IPL 7, Hussey will share the dressing room with the legendary batsman as though the Mumbaikar has retired from IPL as well, he will turn up as the team's icon this season. Hussey was bought by the Mumbai Indians in this year's auctions, after his six-year-long association with the Chennai Super Kings.
"It will be different but I am excited by the challenge of joining a team that I have admired and respected over the six years. I am really looking forward to spending time with him and talking about life and cricket," Hussey said with a smile. "He will probably be sick of me by the end of the IPL."
Anyone who has seen the Aussie sweat it out - both on the field and in the nets - knows that there are very few cricketers in the world who take their game as seriously as Hussey does. He is known for the ways in which he keeps himself fit and the amount of practice sessions that go behind every single match. He is fit even long after his international retirement and playing for the Big Bash back home has only helped the cause.
"I think I have mellowed over the years and have enjoyed the game a lot more in my last few seasons," Hussey said about his approach. "Maybe there is a lesson in that as I feel my performances have been better the more I have relaxed and enjoyed the game.
"I have still been able to work hard on my fitness and strength and I am still playing in the Big Bash in Australia. I may be a little rusty early in the tournament but I think I won't take long to get up to the required level."
(Ed: VP)
