Put loss behind us, Hussey tells Aussies

1 Sep 2012, 6:07 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Veteran Mike Hussey is urging his Australian teammates to put their heavy loss in game two behind them. (AAP)

Veteran Mike Hussey is urging his Australian teammates to put their heavy loss in game two behind them. (AAP)

Veteran Mike Hussey is urging his Australian teammates to stay positive and put their heavy loss in game two behind them as they prepare for Monday night's decider in their three-game series against Pakistan.

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Veteran Mike Hussey is urging his Australian teammates to stay positive and put their heavy loss in game two behind them as they prepare for Monday night's decider in their three-game series against Pakistan.

Pakistan kept the one-day international series alive with a seven-wicket win in Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning, chasing down Australia's 9-248 with 38 deliveries and seven wickets to spare.

It was a far cry from Australia's dominant bowling performance in game one in Sharjah when Pakistan were skittled for 198. But that was when Australia were asked to bowl first.

"It didn't go well but we need to put that game behind us and come in with a really positive frame of mind and come in for one huge effort in the third game," Hussey said.

Australia's bowlers conceded 20 wides in game two as they failed to handle the wet ball in the midnight dew.

The first ODI game to be played over two months, after it began on August 31 and finished around 2.25am on September 1, will be remembered for the 31-degree heat and 95 per cent humidity endured by the players.

Hussey said it was similar to playing in Chennai where walking out to bat leaves a player drenched in sweat.

Australia face a difficult assignment to regroup for the Sharjah clash, with pace bowler Mitchell Starc (0-43 off 7.5 overs) nursing a chest/side complaint.

Starc was man of the match in game one with 5-42.

Openers David Warner (24 off 68 balls) and Matthew Wade (seven) need to find form in a hurry.

"We've got to have a better foundation than what we did today, with our top three putting their hands up to bat deeper through the innings," skipper Michael Clarke said.

Clarke says he's also to blame after failing to convert scores of 75, 66 and 37 at No.3 against Afghanistan and Pakistan into centuries.

Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed showed the value of top-order runs with a match-winning knock of 97 in Abu Dhabi.

Australian offspinner Glenn Maxwell appeared overwhelmed by the wet conditions, spraying the ball down leg-side in his opening over and conceding 37 runs from 4.4 overs.

"It was certainly a surprise for all of us once we walked out to field today, so it was the wrong decision after winning the toss to bat first," Clarke conceded.

"They outplayed us today."

Clarke and Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said the dew was a lot heavier on Friday night than the previous night.

Mitchell Johnson, Dan Christian and James Pattinson claimed one wicket each before Azhar Ali (59 not out) and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (35 not out) guided Pakistan home.

Mike Hussey top-scored for Australia with 61, sharing half-century partnerships with George Bailey (39) and Maxwell (28).

Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal gave another brilliant display with a return of 4-32 after his 3-30 in game one.

 

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