Hussey salutes 'working-class' spirit of Australia

Published on Monday 14 September 2009 22:43

MICHAEL Hussey believes Australia's current team have a more "working-class" feel about them than the star-studded crop which previously dominated the game.

Despite losing their grip on the Ashes, Australia go into today's fifth one-day international against England at Trent Bridge with a 4-0 lead, and knowing victory is already assured in the seven-match series. However, even with their current success, there is no longer that same fear among opposing sides there was once when it came to sharing the field with those in gold and green.

Australia's change of guard has been well documented, especially this summer with both Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss claiming their traditional rivals do not have the aura of their predecessors. The loss of the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, among others, would hurt any team. And with Australia looking to almost reinvent themselves, Hussey, one of the few survivors from that era, admits there is a different approach when they now take to the field.

"I think we're more of a working-class team now," he said. "When I first started playing we had an unbelievable team to be involved in really. There was so much confidence, so much presence about the team and you did expect to win every single game and win it well.

"Being part of this team everyone has a specific job they've got to do and we all have to be doing our jobs if we're going to win and win well."