Hussey tells team-mates: Get behind Clarke

Australian batsman Michael Hussy insists skipper Michael Clarke has the full backing of the side as he searches to rediscover the form that made the Baggy Greens the dominant test cricket side in the world.

Clarke has enjoyed success since taking over from Ricky Ponting, leading his side to four straight series wins, but has had his leadership skills bought into question over his handling of dropping opener Simon Katich, who accused Clarke of conspiring to keep him out the side.

However Hussey believes Clarke has taken brilliantly to the role and, and added that the team had to get behind him ahead of a difficult test series against South Africa that they are slight free bet underdogs for later this month.

“If you want to be part of this Australian team, you’ve got to go with the captain and we respect the way he wants to take the team,” Hussey told AAP.

“Even someone like Ricky who has been captain, he’s jumping on board as well and it just shows that the guys really do want to play for Australia, we do want to play under Michael and I think we’re definitely going in the right direction.”

“It’s been great for him personally – he’s really taken the role with a full head of steam. He’s very passionate about the role and he’s very clear in how he wants to lead the team.”

Clarke has overseen series wins against Sri Lanka in both test cricket and in the ODI format and Bangladesh and South Africa in the 50 over game, but the test series against South Africa is viewed as test of how far they have come since Ponting handed over the captaincy role, with Hussey describing the games that have split free bets as “huge”.

“If we can stick together and do the basics for long, long periods of time, which is what Michael’s philosophy is, then I think we can definitely come out on top,” Hussey commented.

“It’s going to be a huge series … it’s going to be great hard Test cricket which is what we all look forward to, but I’m confident.

“We’ve got a very important first-class (tour) match coming up in Potchefstroom [on Tuesday]. We’ve got to make sure we get into Test mode.”