Australia should not make the mistake of firing up Kohli with sledging, warns Hussey

02/03/2017

Michael Hussey has warned Australia against engaging in a verbal war with Virat Kohli when they tour India later this month for the Test series. Hussey feels that “from an Australian point of view, Kohli is public enemy No.1”, and that the focus should primarily be on getting him out cheaply.

Back in 2014, the Australians verbally targeted Kohli during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG after the young Indian took over the Test captaincy from MS Dhoni. Kohli replied with an innings of 169 on the pitch, and off it, he had said, "I respect quite a few of them but someone who doesn’t respect me I’ve got no reason to respect him. They were calling me a spoiled brat and I said ‘maybe that’s the way I am, and I know you guys hate me’ … and it worked in my favour I guess.

"I like playing against Australia because it’s very hard for them to stay calm and I don’t mind an argument on the field."

Former Australian international Michael Hussey has warned Australia against repeating the same mistake against Kohli this time around.

"I wouldn't try and fire him up.

"I think he thrives on that and he's a real competitor.

"He loves being in the fight and loves the contest out in the middle.

I wouldn't try and fire him up. "I think he thrives on that and he's a real competitor.

Hussey

"I'd make sure we have some very clear plans and we try and stick to them as best as we possibly can.

"There's no need to get involved in that sort of verbal barrage because I think that fires him up even more.

"You don't want to get carried away with too much talk and lose your concentration of what's important, which is executing your skills.

"The team that wins will be the one that can execute their skills at the highest quality and for the longest period of time.

"It's not going to be the team that's the most verbal or the most aggressive," Hussey told cricket.com.au.

Hussey feels that the performances of Kohli and Steve Smith could decisive Australia’s fortune in a nation where they have struggled for success in the Test format. He said, "From an Australian point of view, Kohli is public enemy No.1 and we have to get him out cheaply.

"If he gets in, he'll go big and score big runs.

"He's very confident at the moment, he knows the conditions so well and generally if he plays well, India win.

"And it's similar with Australia - Steve Smith and David Warner are the two most important batsmen in the Australian line-up and if they score runs, generally Australia go well.

"If they don't, the other batsmen are under enormous pressure.

"I'm sure India will be looking at Steve Smith as the key man they want to get out."

After a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka last year, Australia will look to put up a better performance in the subcontinent this time around. However, Hussey has insisted that Smith should not put too much pressure on himself on the tour.

"It's important that he doesn't put any more pressure on himself and think that he's got to be the one who has to score all the runs.

"He's just got to do his job, play his game, stick to his plan and try and score runs.

"I think it's a danger if he thinks he needs to take on more responsibility and put more pressure on himself to score the runs.

"I think then he'd be in danger and could get out cheaply.

"He's just one batter in that order who's trying to do a job," Hussey added.