Hussey in good spirits after century

Michael Hussey's unbeaten century against the England Lions was a trip down memory lane, not just for Australian fans but the batsman himself.

Hussey peeled off his 50th first-class ton against the Lions at Worcester on Wednesday night in a welcome return to form just seven days prior to the start of the first Test.

Arriving at the centre of the New Road ground with Australia at trouble on 2-24, Hussey batted for more than five hours to compile 143.

Not since the first Test in Bangalore against India last October had Hussey reached three figures in a first-class game.

"You sort of almost get out of the habit of batting a long time and scoring hundreds," Hussey said.

"I was starting to get to the stage where I almost forgot how to do it. It was nice to spend a long time out there and to actually score a hundred which does take a lot of effort and application."

The writing on the wall for this century came last week in Hove when Hussey scratched away for nearly three and a half hours for scores of 32 and 40.

This time, Hussey said, he was feeling on his game from ball one.

"It was just moving around a little bit so I had to concentrate hard," he said.

"It was very, very enjoyable day really and quite a rewarding day because, as I said, I want to get into the habit of batting a long period of time and scoring hundreds I guess."

Hussey still boasts an average in the mid 50s but was above 80 at the start of 2008. The drop came courtesy of an awful six Tests against South Africa where he made just one half-century from 12 innings.

"I was pretty philosophical about it to be honest," Hussey said of his lean run.

"I had a good start to my international career and you've got to expect a period of time where things don't quite go as plan or the runs don't flow as nicely as you would like."

But Hussey, nicknamed Mr Cricket for his unwavering commitment to the sport, maintained faith in his game.

Therefore his enforced rest during the five-match one-day series against Pakistan in the UAE felt foreign to him.

Sitting out this year's IPL tournament also paid dividends, he said.

"I think when you are in the bubble of international cricket you don't really see ho much it does actually affect you," he said.

"I actually felt OK in South Africa but talking to our coach I look a lot different than I do now than I did by the end of that one-day series."

"He just said I look a lot more fresher and enthusiastic. I don't feel too much different but obviously other people that I trust and respect what they say did see a change."