Hussey's 'special' hundred

India delighted with positive start to their reply before rain arrives

Last updated: 11th October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hussey's 'special' hundred

Hussey: Special hundred

It's arguably the toughest place to play for an Australian, so to get a hundred and help the team get in a good position is very, very rewarding

Mike Hussey
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Australia's Michael Hussey admitted scoring his first Test hundred on Indian soil was "particularly special".

The left-hander made 146 to help the tourists reach 430 by the time they were bowled out in Bangalore.

It was his ninth Test ton and his second against India having hit 145 not out in Sydney earlier this year, though this was made all the more sweeter for the fact it came on the sub-continent.

As well as the heat, Hussey had to work hard on a low, slow pitch against a bowling attack that included spin duo Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble.

Toughest place

"It's particularly special to get a Test match hundred in India," he said at the end of day two of the series opener.

"It's arguably the toughest place to play for an Australian, so to get a hundred and help the team get in a good position is very, very rewarding.

"It was a slow wicket with a bit of uneven bounce, there are a bit of cracks and indentations, a dry wicket. It was a challenge and it feels special to score."

Hussey's innings, which followed on from Ricky Ponting's 123 on the opening day, meant India were on the back foot when they started their reply.

Good start

They managed to make a good start, though, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir reaching 68 without loss before rain arrived to end play early on Friday.

Zaheer Khan, who had finished as the pick of the home side's bowling attack with figures of 5-91, felt the efforts of the opening pair was crucial after so much time spent in the field.

"It's obvious that the wicket is not easy to bowl on," he said. "It's a bit on the slow side and the ball is keeping low.

"It was important for us to start well, and we managed to achieve that. To have no wickets down at the end of the day's play is a big positive for us."