Quicks can take WA to shield: Hussey
WA could go one better than last season's Sheffield Shield final appearance, but only if their fast-bowling brigade remained fit and continued to develop.
As Mike Hussey prepared for the latest instalment of his globe-trotting Twenty20 career - by helping the Mumbai Indians qualify for the lucrative Champions League - he predicted that the Warriors could end their 15-year shield drought this summer.
But Hussey said the WA pace attack had to continue to improve after a season that saw Nathan Coulter-Nile develop into an international bowler and Jason Behrendorff reach the fringe of the national team.
"The big bonus for WA last year was being able to rotate the quicks. It meant they stayed reasonably fresh," Hussey said.
"They had a good pool of quality bowlers. I hope they learnt from that so they can push on even harder and go one step further than last year."
Coulter-Nile and Behrendorff are likely to shoulder the main load again for the Warriors, while the WACA is confident that Glamorgan will release veteran Michael Hogan to play another Australian season.
Hussey had no regrets about his failed bid to play for WA in the latter stages of last season, but will turn to his club team Wanneroo this season to better prepare for his appearances on the various T20 stages around the world.
The 39-year-old will train with the club in the pre-season before heading to India next month as part of the Mumbai squad that will attempt to qualify for the Champions League.
"It is my plan to try to get in a few games for Wanneroo in between all my other commitments," he said.
"I plan to get down to training in the pre-season and have a few hits there.
"It worked well last year, but I only played two games and I would like to get a few more."
Hussey will also play for Wanneroo before this summer's Big Bash League when he will turn out for a Sydney Thunder team that is set to be bolstered by Jacques Kallis and recent Perth Scorchers paceman Pat Cummins.
But Hussey's attempt to forge a family reunion with his brother David at the Thunder is not likely to occur because the Melbourne Stars are set to hold him to the final year of his contract.
·Hussey is an ambassador for the Commonwealth Bank's grants for grassroots program which will distribute $100,000 to clubs this year. Details are available at www.commbank.com.au/cricket .
"The big bonus for WA last year was being able to rotate the quicks. I hope they learnt from that …"" *Mike Hussey *
