Hussey set to make IPL return for Chennai

Michael Hussey could be in line to play his first IPL game of the season following the departure of Brendon McCullum from Chennai Super Kings.

McCullum heads to England to lead New Zealand in a two-match Test series starting from May 21 and if Chennai skipper MS Dhoni is to be believed, his place in the playing XI will be taken by Sydney Thunder’s Hussey.

In his last game before he left for England, McCullum overcame a sluggish surface at Chepauk and hot and humid conditions to score 81 off 61 balls. It was a knock that helped Chennai usurp Rajasthan and jump into top spot, as well qualifying for the play-offs.

The Kiwi skipper looked exhausted through the latter half of his innings but stuck it out in the middle before finally perishing in the 18th over.

"There is a joke in the dressing room that if ‘Baz’ (McCullum) bats for six overs, he's cooked,” Dhoni said of the Black Caps captain.

“Michael Hussey will replace McCullum. Hussey has been great for us.”

Hussey has been a part of the Chennai side every season since its inception except last year.

He was released by the Super Kings at the end of the 2013 tournament and Mumbai Indians bought him at the auction before letting him go at the conclusion of the tournament, when Chennai subsequently bought him back.

The left-handed batsman had also stood down from the 2009 season in a bid to reinvigorate himself for the impending Ashes series that year.

In Hussey’s absence last year, Dwayne Smith and McCullum formed an excellent opening partnership, scoring a total of 971 runs as a pair.

Faf du Plessis had also established himself as a solid middle-order batsman, although some might argue that Hussey’s average of 52.35 in the 2013 season should have been enough for the management to feature him ahead of the South African last year.

And with Dhoni’s preference for allrounders well-chronicled, Dwayne Bravo was always going to play in the side, thereby making it tough for Hussey to break into the team.

What would have made it tougher for Hussey is Chennai Super Kings’ philosophy, which was reiterated by coach Stephen Fleming recently.

“Players who are out of form (can) pick up (their form) and I do not believe chopping and changing players in IPL gives you an advantage,” Fleming said in a pre-match press conference. “It could be destructive.”

Now, Hussey not only has a chance to play for the Super Kings again but also guide them through to the play-offs. Chennai’s first objective will be to ensure they finish in the top two thereby allowing them two shots at making it to the grand final.

And Hussey has the experience on his side. He has featured in both finals the Super Kings went on to win – in 2011 and 2012 – and made sterling contributions with the bat.

He smashed a 45-ball 63 in the 2011 IPL final before scoring a 43-ball 54 in the 2012 final.

Hussey had a mixed season with the Thunder in BBL|04.

He started out with a match-winning 96 against Brisbane Heat but followed it up with scores of 17, 10, 36*, 9 and 9 over the next five games.

Since the end of the Big Bash League, he hasn’t had a hit in a competitive game.