While he can see distinct similarities, the previous batting hero of an unlikely Australia T20 World Cup semi-final triumph over Pakistan believes there is a significant difference in the men's team's current pursuit of the one global limited-overs trophy to have thus far eluded it.
Mike Hussey, whose remarkable unbeaten 60 from 24 balls lifted Australia from a seemingly hopeless position into the final of the 2010 event in the Caribbean, believes his cameo might have masked an outfit that had peaked too early.
By contrast, Hussey sees the current Australia line-up – which meets New Zealand in Sunday's final at Dubai on the back of Matthew Wade's equally stunning 41no off 17 – as having built momentum throughout the tournament to be hitting their straps at the right moment.
Comparisons have been drawn between the left-handers' respective last-over onslaughts, with Hussey bludgeoning 18 (including three sixes) from four deliveries off Pakistan leg-spinner Saeed Ajmal in St Lucia, while Wade's 20 from four balls came against speedster Shaheen Afridi.
Both pyrotechnics shows came in knockout matches that Pakistan had dominated for much of the earlier phases, and ensured Australia enter the only two finals they've reached at T20 World Cups with breeze at their backs.
But Hussey sensed it was not to be plain sailing when they flew to Barbados just hours after the completion of that memorable 2010 semi-final to face England, who had been in red-hot form.
"At least the Aussies have got a couple of days this time just to come down off the high, to re-assess and then go again," Hussey told cricket.com.au.
"But there's no worries about getting up for a World Cup final after such a big semi-final, they'll be jumping out of their skins.
"The semi-final we won, I felt Pakistan played arguably the better cricket throughout the game and my sense was we were just starting to tail off.
"If we'd played England in the final maybe two games earlier, then it might have been a different story, I don't know.
"I just felt we were tapering off a touch, but that's just my opinion – I'm sure there are other guys who disagree with me there.
"But I think this Aussie team has been good in building momentum and has got gradually better with each game.
"There were a few question marks over this Aussie team at the start of the tournament, but it's just got better and better and gained more confidence as they've gone along."
Hussey noted the key to tournament play was ensuring things were going well enough in the group stage to make it through to the playoff rounds, but still to have room for improvement at the pointy end of competition.
However, he also noted Australia's 2007 flawless one-day World Cup campaign in the West Indies – of which he was a part – was an exception to that rule because "that team was in top form all the way through, it was unbelievable".
The fact that Australia outfit under Ricky Ponting was at the height of its considerable powers and carried all before it in both Test and ODI formats provides Hussey pause to consider the formidable obstacle New Zealand represents in 2021.
But for a wretched overthrow and a curious countback system, the Black Caps might be holders of two of global cricket's three most prestigious trophies with a chance of claiming the T20 crown on Sunday evening.
Despite NZ's recent run of success, Hussey is tipping Australia to win their first T20 World Cup although he also believes the outcome might be hugely influenced by events before a ball is bowled.
"Obviously I'm going to tip Australia, but not with full confidence," he said.
"I think New Zealand have been superb, and fantastic in all three formats of the game in the last few years so what a triumph it would be for them if they could cap it off.
"I hate to say it, and I don't like to see any result being influenced by the coin toss, but I think the toss will be crucial.
"I think there's been a high proportion of games at this World Cup that have been won by the team batting second, and that's significant.
"So as much as I don't like it, maybe the team that wins the toss has a huge advantage."
Read more at:
https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mik...ustralia-t20-world-cup-semi-finals/2021-11-13
And then have to glorify about your own country men too while bragging about 6 sixes? Totally different scenario.
