Hussey recovers from injury, to play for Warriors next week

Melbourne, Feb 25 (PTI) In what would embarrass thenational selectors, Michael Hussey, who was ignored forAustralia''s World Cup defence on count of injury, has beencleared to play for Western Australia against Queensland inthe Sheffield Shield clash, starting next week.

The domestic tie is scheduled for Thursday, two daysbefore Australia''s match against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

The selectors chose to not select Hussey in the World Cupsqaud, saying it would be too risky.

Hussey, called Mr Cricket, said he found his omissionfrom the squad a bitter pill to swallow.

"I''ve been finding it hard to watch, I must admit. I''dlove to be over there but the selectors have made the decisionin the best interests of the team and they felt it was toomuch of a risk to take me and Ricky.

"I was always confident I would be right to have a crackin the second game against New Zealand and I definitely wouldhave been right for Sri Lanka. This is pretty much what Iexpected," Hussey said.

"We''ve got another Shield game starting againstQueensland on the 3rd of March. If there''s no further setbacksI''ll definitely be playing in that," he added.

Hussey has scored 4469 runs from 151 one-dayers at animpressive average of 51.97 and had even planned an earlyreturn to competitive cricket by playing for the Warriorsagainst Tasmania four days ago but waited for the injury toheal completely.

"My hammy feels great. I''m running at about 95 per cent,"he said.