Australian batsman Hussey, who has the sobriquet ‘Mr Cricket’ due to his dedication to the game, believes recent incidents such as the fourth Test controversy between Pakistan and England, as well as the advancement of television coverage, has placed cricketers under intense scrutiny.
He believes every action, no matter how insignificant, needs to be cleared with the umpire to dispel any accusations of wrong-doing, but nonetheless stresses it is down to the players to be honest.
”These days, with the scrutiny, you’ve got to be very open and honest, and if there is something on the ball you do it in front of the umpires and you shouldn’t have any problems,” Hussey said.
”Sometimes I guess there can be a little bit of grass stuck on the ball or something like that but generally we go up to the umpire and show him and clean it off right in front of him.”
Hussey, who has been named as Australia’s vice-captain for the triangular tournament against India and the West Indies in Malaysia this month, feels players should try harder to help out umpires.
”The umpires have a tough enough job just concentrating on the players,” he said.
”We have a responsibility to make sure we are playing the game in the right spirit … so the umpires don’t have to be looking around at all the players trying to cheat.
”We just need to play the game in the right spirit.” – Sport365.co.za