Impressive Hussey’s leadership skills come to the fore

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Kings XI Punjab’s ascendancy to the top-four position in the IPL-5 table has coincided with David Hussey taking over the captain’s mantle from regular skipper Adam Gilchrist, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Three wins and two defeats in the last five outings under the stand-in skipper is nothing to write home about but the last two scalps — away upsets against Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore — were impressive enough to take note of the 35-year-old’s contribution at the helm.

Though Hussey had the luxury of the experienced all-rounder Azhar Mahmood joining the ranks to lend the much-needed balance to the side, the transformation under the Aussie is noteworthy, particularly the way the team has fired as a unit.

Even the two losses under Hussey were pretty close affairs and Gilchrist duly acknowledged his compatriot’s “strong leadership”.

“He has been very impressive with what he has done. He has been keen to get in and lead the team. It has been great to work with him and we continue to talk even during the match. I don’t see anything negative in his captaincy,” pointed out Gilchrist.

On Wednesday, Hussey allowed pacer Praveen Kumar to complete his spell at one go, a decision which handed Kings XI the early advantage against RCB. “I bowled him through upfront because he was the most likely to get a wicket.

There was a chance of him getting Chris (Gayle) snick one to the ’keeper. The conditions favoured him,” reasoned Hussey.

And like a true leader, when injured pacer Ryan Harris couldn’t complete his spell, Hussey himself took the responsibility on his shoulders to bowl an exceptional 2-0-9-0 spell with his off-spin.

With Australia naming George Bailey, who is yet to put his feet firmly down in the international circuit, as their T20 skipper recently, Hussey may well become a contender for captaincy in the T20 Worlds in Sri Lanka later this year.

Asked about that possible elevation, Gilchrist was at his diplomatic best. “Now, I am removed from Australian cricket and what’s going on there… but I am proud of the courage and character he showed tonight,” was all Gilchrist said.

With his unaccomplished Melbourne Stars team-mate Bailey getting the captaincy ahead of Big Bash captains David Warner and Xavier Doherty earlier this year, the T20 regular Hussey is emerging as a strong contender through IPL.