by Keiran Croker
Close your eyes and reflect on a decision you had to make that changed your life. That was the request of our guest David Hussey (Head of Male Cricket at Cricket Victoria) at the ACS Cricket Season Launch at the Glasshouse Caulfield on Wednesday 20th November.
David went on to talk about his pivotal decision, when he was contacted by Ian Crawford of Prahran Cricket Club circa 2001 to consider moving across the country from Perth to play cricket in Melbourne. In David’s words he had an ideal life, still living at home with supportive parents, playing at Wanneroo CC with his older brother Michael and in the Western Australia cricket squad. However, he had yet to break through to debut in First Class cricket; more about that later.
He made the move. Though he hated his first year in Melbourne and wanted to return home. With the encouragement of his father he stuck it out and made a personal commitment to be the “best he could be” and “play at the highest level he could”. He introduced more structure to his life and training and his cricket took off. He broke through to debut for Victoria in 2002/03.
David recalled his first Sheffield Shield game against NSW, who were full of Test players who enjoyed sledging newcomers. He dropped then Test Captain Steve Waugh on 4; who went on to make 211. He did n’t make many runs himself, but he was on his way.
David recognised the mentorship of team mates Brad Hodge and Matthew Elliot in developing his game, particularly game awareness and technique.
David went on to play for 13 seasons for Victoria and 9 years at Nottinghamshire in the English County Competition (scoring over 14,000 First Class runs at an average 52.5) and was an inaugural player in the Indian Premier League with Kolkatta Knight Riders, playing six and a half seasons. David values loyalty.
Post his playing days, David coached for a few seasons and is now Head of Male Cricket here in Victoria responsible for the Sheffield Shield team and the Under 17 and Under 19 teams. It’s his role to develop players through to First Class cricket and aspiring to be International players. It’s a role he very much enjoys. He mentioned a number of young players who he has high hopes for including two ACS Young Cricketer of the Year Award winners in Campbell Kellaway and Oliver Peake.
David took a number of questions from the attentive audience of over 30 members and guests. In response to a question on his most memorable achievements he highlighted two team achievements; winning the Sheffield Shield in 2003/4 (the season when Coach David Hooke tragically died) and the County Championship in 2005, and personally scoring a double hundred to chase down 450 on the last day to defeat NSW in that 2003/4 season – it was Hookes last game as Coach.
David also recalled the story of when he was still at home in Perth aspiring to break through for a Shield debut. After the Christmas break he reeled off three hundreds in successive games for Wanneroo and had high hopes. However it seems the selectors were convinced it was the other Hussey making the runs. He made his decision to leave the following season and has not regretted it.
Although David did not break through for a Test career, like his older brother Michael he did have an outstanding International career playing 69 ODIs (1,796 runs at 32.65) and 30 T20 Internationals (756 at 22.90). David was an excellent guest, who shared his thoughts and experiences fully with an appreciative audience. Glasshouse Caulfield also proved to be an excellent venue.