The Cricket World is still overcoming the Ball Tampering controversy that took place in the Third Test between South Africa and Australia at Cape Town, Newlands. Cricket Australia has announced its verdict and almost everyone in the cricketing fraternity is coming out with their own understanding and the opinion about the misdoings of Steven Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft.
The unfortunate incident has evoked responses from various former cricketers as well. The most read-worthy words so far have come from not anyone else, but Mr.Cricket Michael Hussey. Before the Kohlis and ABDs of the game, Hussey was first of those to have a strong game in all three format. A man who made his Test debut at the age of 30 has provided his views on playing cricket in a fair way on one of the Australian cricket’s social platform.
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In his article titled “What We are truly remembered for” for the platform ‘PlayersVoice’, Michael Hussey revisits his Test debut scene. He thinks back to his emotions on receiving the Baggy Green Australian Test cap from Bill Brown and the words Brown said to him,”‘Good luck. I look forward to cheering your first Test century.”
The philosopher emerged from the cover of a cricketer, Hussey started weighing the gravity of the moment and what it meant. “I stood there on the outfield at the Gabba, trying to take it all in, when I was struck by a thought: I was now part of something much bigger than I had first realized. The Australian cricket team wasn’t just me and the ten blokes taking the field that morning. It was an institution that spanned eras and generations. Bill and I were born more than 60 years apart but we were members of the same club – me as the 393rd player, Bill as the 150th.
I was now a custodian of that tradition, as he had been before me.”
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Even in the current grim time, Michael Hussey believes that this is the opportunity for to reconnect the values to Cricket. He emphasizes the fact that after you have completed playing cricket, no one will remember you by the runs scored or wickets taken but by how you played. He urges the players to play hard and fair thus rekindling the wonderful cricketing spirit.
Delving into his own experiences, Hussey states, “I have had quite a bit of involvement in team-building in recent years, albeit in the Twenty20 environment. No matter the league, wherever the country, the same rules for creating a successful, sustainable culture apply: character first, skill second.”
Signing off with the question that always stayed with him in his playing days, The Australian legend wants players to think about leaving the team in a better place than they inherited. As a reminder of that, Michael Hussey says, “I keep my baggy green somewhere where I can see it daily.”
The Left-hander ruled the cricket grounds when he batted, now he rules the cricketing hearts with his love and honesty for the game.
